The Guide (Wommat)

The Guide (Wommat)
The Guide (Wommat)
Studio album by Youssou N'Dour
Released	11 July 1994
Recorded	September–October 1993
Studio	Power Play (New York City); Xippi (Dakar);
Genre	Pop; folk; world; country;
Length	73:01
Label	Columbia
Producer	Verna Gillis
Youssou N'Dour chronology

The Guide (Wommat) is the seventh studio album by Senegalese singer and composer Youssou N'Dour. Recorded during the autumn of 1993 in both New York City and Dakar, the album was released on 11 July 1994 through Columbia Records.^[3] Featuring the hit single "7 Seconds", a duet with Neneh Cherry, The Guide (Wommat) is the commercially most successful album by N'Dour.^[5]

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[3]
Music Week	^[4]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Youssou N'Dour, except where noted.

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Length
1.	"Leaving (Dem)"			5:03
2.	"Old Man (Gorgui)"			6:30
3.	"Without a Smile (Same)" (featuring Branford Marsalis)			4:12
4.	"Mame Bamba"	Y. N'Dour Boubacar N'Dour	Mamadou Mbaye Y. N'Dour	4:58
5.	"7 Seconds" (with Neneh Cherry)	Y. N'Dour Cherry	Cameron McVey Jonathan Sharp	5:06
6.	"How You Are (No Mele)"	Y. N'Dour Kabou Gueye	Habib Faye Gueye Y. N'Dour	3:39
7.	"Generations (Diamono)"			5:46
8.	"Tourista"		Jean-Philippe Rykiel	4:36
9.	"Undecided (Japoulo)"		Faye Rykiel	5:26
10.	"Love One Another (Beuguente)"		Rykiel Y. N'Dour	4:51
11.	"Life (Adouna)"		Rykiel	4:04
12.	"My People (Samay Nit)"	Bouna N'Diaye		4:38
13.	"Oh Boy"			4:37
14.	"Silence (Tongo)"			4:38
15.	"Chimes of Freedom"	Bob Dylan	Dylan	4:51
Total length:				73:01

Charts

Chart performance for *The Guide (Wommat)*
Chart (1994–1995)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)^[6]	39
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)^[7]	11
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)^[8]	38
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)^[9]	11
European Albums (IFPI)^[10]	17
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)^[11]	15
French Albums (IFOP)^[12]	15
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)^[13]	27
Italian Albums (AFI)^[14]	4
Japanese Albums (Oricon)^[15]	27
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)^[16]	47
Portuguese Albums (AFP)^[17]	11
Spanish Albums (AFYVE)^[18]	8
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)^[19]	43
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)^[20]	18
UK Albums (OCC)^[21]	87
US World Albums (Billboard)^[22]	2

Certifications

Certifications for *The Guide (Wommat)*
Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
France (SNEP)^[23]	2× Gold	200,000^*
Italy (FIMI)^[24]	Platinum	100,000^*
Netherlands (NVPI)^[25]	Gold	50,000^{^}
Spain (Promusicae)^[18]	Gold	50,000^{^}
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)^[26]	Gold	25,000^{^}
^* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

↑ "Youssou N'Dour – The Guide (Wommat) – Master". Discogs. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
↑ "Youssou N'Dour – The Guide (Wommat) – Release Credits". Discogs. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
1 2 Stepek, Peter. "Guide (Wommat) – Youssou N'Dour – Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
↑ Jones, Alan (9 July 1994). "Market Preview: Mainstream - Albums" (PDF). Music Week. p. 17. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
↑ Myers, Justin (5 September 2019). "Number 1 today in 1994: Wet Wet Wet see off Kylie's comeback". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
↑ "Australiancharts.com – Youssou N'Dour – The Guide (Wommat)". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
↑ "Austriancharts.at – Youssou N'Dour – The Guide (Wommat)" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
↑ "Ultratop.be – Youssou N'Dour – The Guide (Wommat)" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Youssou N'Dour – The Guide (Wommat)" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
↑ "Sales Week 38/94 – European Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. worldradiohistory.com. 17 September 1994. p. 14. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
↑ Pennanen, Timo. "Sisältää hitin: Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1961: Artistit N – NEV > Youssou N'Dour" (in Finnish). Sisältää hitin. Archived from the original on 20 April 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
↑ "Le Détail des Albums de chaque Artiste – N". Institut français d'opinion publique (in French). infodisc.fr. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Youssou N'Dour – The Guide (Wommat)" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
↑ "Sales Week 44/94 – Top 10 Sales in Europe – Italy" (PDF). Music & Media. worldradiohistory.com. 29 October 1994. p. 20. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
↑ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
↑ Scapolo, Dean (2007). The Complete New Zealand Music Charts: 1966–2006. Maurienne House. ISBN 978-1-877443-00-8.
↑ "Sales Week 37/94 – Top 10 Sales in Europe – Portugal" (PDF). Music & Media. worldradiohistory.com. 10 September 1994. p. 17. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
1 2 Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Youssou N'Dour – The Guide (Wommat)". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
↑ "Swisscharts.com – Youssou N'Dour – The Guide (Wommat)". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
↑ "Official Albums Chart on 11/9/1994 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
↑ "Youssou N'Dour Chart History (World Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
↑ "French album certifications – Youssou N' Dour – The Guide" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
↑ "Youssou N'Dour at San Remo" (PDF). Music & Media. worldradiohistory.com. 1 April 1996. p. 28. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
↑ "Dutch album certifications – Youssou N'Dour – The Guide" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved 10 June 2023. Enter The Guide in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1997 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
↑ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('The Guide (Wommat)')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 June 2023.

[1] "Youssou N'Dour – The Guide (Wommat) – Master". Discogs. Retrieved 28 May 2021.

[2] "Youssou N'Dour – The Guide (Wommat) – Release Credits". Discogs. Retrieved 28 May 2021.

[AM-3] 1 2 Stepek, Peter. "Guide (Wommat) – Youssou N'Dour – Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 May 2021.

[4] Jones, Alan (9 July 1994). "Market Preview: Mainstream - Albums" (PDF). Music Week. p. 17. Retrieved 8 June 2025.

[5] Myers, Justin (5 September 2019). "Number 1 today in 1994: Wet Wet Wet see off Kylie's comeback". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 May 2021.

[ac_Australia_Youssou_N'Dour-6] "Australiancharts.com – Youssou N'Dour – The Guide (Wommat)". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 May 2021.

[ac_Austria_Youssou_N'Dour-7] "Austriancharts.at – Youssou N'Dour – The Guide (Wommat)" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 May 2021.

[ac_Flanders_Youssou_N'Dour-8] "Ultratop.be – Youssou N'Dour – The Guide (Wommat)" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 May 2021.

[ac_Netherlands_Youssou_N'Dour-9] "Dutchcharts.nl – Youssou N'Dour – The Guide (Wommat)" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 May 2021.

[10] "Sales Week 38/94 – European Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. worldradiohistory.com. 17 September 1994. p. 14. Retrieved 28 May 2021.

[11] Pennanen, Timo. "Sisältää hitin: Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1961: Artistit N – NEV > Youssou N'Dour" (in Finnish). Sisältää hitin. Archived from the original on 20 April 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.

[12] "Le Détail des Albums de chaque Artiste – N". Institut français d'opinion publique (in French). infodisc.fr. Retrieved 28 May 2021.

[ac_Germany_Youssou_N'Dour-13] "Offiziellecharts.de – Youssou N'Dour – The Guide (Wommat)" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 28 May 2021.

[14] "Sales Week 44/94 – Top 10 Sales in Europe – Italy" (PDF). Music & Media. worldradiohistory.com. 29 October 1994. p. 20. Retrieved 28 May 2021.

[15] Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.

[16] Scapolo, Dean (2007). The Complete New Zealand Music Charts: 1966–2006. Maurienne House. ISBN 978-1-877443-00-8.

[17] "Sales Week 37/94 – Top 10 Sales in Europe – Portugal" (PDF). Music & Media. worldradiohistory.com. 10 September 1994. p. 17. Retrieved 28 May 2021.

[ES-18] 1 2 Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.

[ac_Sweden_Youssou_N'Dour-19] "Swedishcharts.com – Youssou N'Dour – The Guide (Wommat)". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 May 2021.

[ac_Switzerland_Youssou_N'Dour-20] "Swisscharts.com – Youssou N'Dour – The Guide (Wommat)". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 May 2021.

[ac_UK2_-21] "Official Albums Chart on 11/9/1994 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 May 2021.

[ac_BillboardWorld_Youssou_N'Dour-22] "Youssou N'Dour Chart History (World Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 May 2021.

[FranceYoussou_N'_DourThe_GuidealbumCertRef-23] "French album certifications – Youssou N' Dour – The Guide" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved 10 June 2023.

[24] "Youssou N'Dour at San Remo" (PDF). Music & Media. worldradiohistory.com. 1 April 1996. p. 28. Retrieved 10 June 2023.

[NetherlandsYoussou_N'DourThe_GuidealbumCertRef-25] "Dutch album certifications – Youssou N'Dour – The Guide" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved 10 June 2023. Enter The Guide in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1997 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".

[SwitzerlandYousou_N'DourThe_Guide_(Wommat)albumCertRef-26] "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('The Guide (Wommat)')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 June 2023.

[3]