Q (12/02, p.110) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...Worldly, romantic and packed with haunting melodies, this is his most rounded album for 12 years..."
Uncut (12/02, p.138) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...He manages to balance tradition with more contemporary arrangements..."
CMJ (12/02, p.56) - "...Classic N'Dour pop, full of cute vocal hooks, nifty arranging twists, multilingual crooning in that golden, instantly recognizable tenor/baritone voice, and a good measure of sentimentality..."
Mojo (Publisher) (1/03, p.75) - Ranked #2 in Mojo's "Best World Albums of 2002"
Mojo (Publisher) (11/02, p.105) - "...An album of stunning power, offering something from deep within his soul...The greatest artist in Africa has made the album of his life."
Personnel includes: Youssou N'Dour (vocals); Habib Faye (guitar, keyboards, bass); Jimi Mbahe, Papa Oumar Ngom (guitar); Issa Dioula (Senegalese wooden flute); Ibrahima Cisse (keyboards); Laurent Verneret (bass); Manu Katche (drums); Viviane Chidid N'Dour, Mamy Kanoute, Mbantan Cissoko, Sokhna Cissoko, Ngoundo Cissoko (background vocals); Barou Sall (xalam); Assane Thiam (tama); Les Nubians.
NOTHING'S IN VAIN was nominated for the 2004 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary World Music Album.