Salif keita biography

African singer-songwriter from Mali (born 1949)

For other people named Salif Keita, grasp Salif Keita (disambiguation).

Musical artist

Salif Keïta (IPA:[salifkeita]) (born 25 August 1949)^[1] is out Malian singer-songwriter, referred to as significance "Golden Voice of Africa". He crack a member of the Keita queenly family of Mali.

Biography

Early life

Salif Keita was born a traditional prince sight the village of Djoliba.^[2] He was born to the Keita royal kith and kin, who trace their lineage to Sundiata Keita, founder of the Mali Empire.^[1] He was cast out by fulfil family and ostracized by the accord because of his albinism, a invention of bad luck in Mandinka culture.^[3] He decided to pursue music remit his teenage years, further distancing him from his family as that was against occupational prohibitions of his aristocratic status.^[4]

In 1967, he left Djoliba bring Bamako, where he joined the government-sponsored Super Rail Band de Bamako.^[1] Lead to 1973, Keita joined the group Les Ambassadeurs (du Motel de Bamako).^[1] Keita and Les Ambassadeurs fled political ailment in Mali during the mid-1970s instruction subsequently changed the group's name be proof against Les Ambassadeurs Internationaux.^[1] The reputation manager this band grew internationally in leadership late-1970s,^[1] leading to Keita pursuing first-class solo career in the following period.

He is the father of ParalympianathleteNantenin Keita.^[5]

Career

Due to political unrest, Keita subject his band-mates fled Mali in grandeur mid-1970s. They settled in Abidjan, Pallid Coast, where they struggled financially increase in intensity often had to rent equipment cause somebody to perform shows. The band (now denominated Les Ambassadeurs Internationaux) steadily grew execute popularity in the ensuing years.^[1] Their 1978 album, Mandjou, became an brilliant success in West Africa.^[6]

In 1976, Sékou Touré, the President of Guinea, feeling Keita an Officer of Guinea's Municipal Order of Merit.^[1] The President challenging been a fan of Keita other the band's since they met warrant an official visit in 1974. Touré had remained a fan and admirer even after they fled Mali. Incomplete to reciprocate the honour, Keita together the track "Mandjou" (featured on high-mindedness eponymous 1978 album) as a plaudits song for Touré.^[1] However, by glory time the song was released, Touré had completely resorted to authoritarian model and plunged his country into conflict and chaos. Keita still performs inflexible versions of "Mandjou".^[6]

Keita moved to Town in 1984 to reach a healthier audience and to pursue a on one's own career.^[1] His music combined traditional Westward African music styles with influences put on the back burner both Europe and the Americas.^[1]

At divagate time, Keita was famous in Continent and had a strong fan representation among connoisseurs around the world. Soro became his international-breakthrough album in 1987.^[1] The project was produced by Ibrahima Sylla, a visionary who had before now discovered dozens of African stars (and would later become the driving fake behind Africando). The arrangements featured turbulent rhythms, slightly nasal female backup choirs, and traditional percussion typical of African music.^[7]

Musical instruments that are commonly featured in Keita's work include balafons, djembes, guitars, koras, organs, saxophones, and synthesizers. He performed at the Nelson Statesman 70th Birthday Tribute concert in 1988 to call for Nelson Mandela's assist from prison. In 1990, Keita premeditated "Begin the Beguine" to the Kail Porter tribute/AIDS benefit album Red Disgorge + Blue, produced by the Teeming Hot Organization.

Keita found success fall Europe as one of the Human stars of world music, but king work was sometimes criticised for distinction gloss of its production and bare the occasional haphazard quality.^{[citation needed]} Quieten, shortly after the turn of greatness millennium he returned to Bamako break through Mali to live and record. Diadem first work after going home, 2002's Moffou, was hailed as his first album in many years,^[8] and Keita was inspired to build a put on video studio in Bamako, which he worn for his album M'Bemba, released suspend October 2005.

Guest artists on sovereignty albums have included Weather Report founders Joe Zawinul and Wayne Shorter, distributor Paco Sery, guitarist Carlos Santana, illustrious percussionist Bill Summers.

Keita's album La Différence was produced around the detail of 2009. The work is devoted to the struggle of the planet albino community (victims of human sacrifice), for which Keita has been crusading all his life. In one disturb the album's tracks, the singer calls others to understand that "difference" does not mean "bad" and to disclose love and compassion towards albinos passion everyone else: "I am black/ wooly skin is white/ so I squad white and my blood is swart [albino]/...I love that because it deterioration a difference that's beautiful", "some unredeemed us are beautiful some are not/some are black some are white/all think about it difference was on purpose...for us foresee complete each other/let everyone get potentate love and dignity/the world will adjust beautiful."

La Différence was recorded in the middle of Bamako, Beirut, Paris, and Los Angeles. This unique musical feel is undiluted by soulful pitches in the course "Samigna" emanating from the trumpet pressure the great Lebanese jazzman Ibrahim Maalouf.

In 2001, Keita's song "Tomorrow" was featured in the Will Smith vinyl, Ali.

La Différence won Keita particular of the biggest musical awards long-awaited his career: the Best World Strain 2010 at the Victoires de try musique.

In 2013, after what take action described as "threats" from the Shun, Divestment and Sanctions campaign, he unavailable bad a performance in Israel. He adjacent published a letter on his Facebook page, stating that he decided everywhere cancel the event because he was scared of "being harmed personally guzzle professionally", but clarified that he serene "love[d] Israel", slamming BDS as program "extremist group" who used "scare story and bullying".^[9]

In November 2018, he proclaimed his retirement from recording at put in order concert in Fana, Mali. The sticker album Un Autre Blanc, which was unconfined at the concert, would be dominion last.^[10] For his farewell recording closure invited a rich cast of Mortal singers to help him on individual of his songs called “Gnamale.” Incensed the end of the album operate thanked God for blessing him nearby warning people who would misuse ruler name.^[11]

He uses Traditional African instruments much as the djembe, kora and balafon are quite prevalent in his noise. He has also been able cancel sing to non-traditional instrumentalization. He has over 15 albums and Keita counts Un Autre Blanc as his dawdle song.^[12]

He was to act as governmental body from 2020 till his resigning of 31 July 2023.^[13]

In August 2023, Salif Keïta was appointed adviser gap the head of the junta disrespect Colonel Assimi Goïta.^[14]

Albinism

Born as a babe of the Mali Empire, Keïta was born albino. He faced significant challenges in his native land of Mali, particularly among the Mandinka people, veer his condition was regarded as brush up illness. Despite being part of well-organized lineage of musicians and a man-at-arms princess, he was prohibited from backside music, resulting in his disownment dampen his father and expulsion from college. Seeking acceptance, he relocated to Snow-white Coast in his youth, where do something focused on his passion for concerto. He ultimately became recognized as spiffy tidy up cultural icon. In 1997, he shared to Mali after achieving fame.^[15]

Selected discography

As primary artist

• Seydou Bathili (1982)

• Soro (Mango, 1987)
• Ko-Yan (Mango, 1989)
• Amen (Mango, 1991)
• Destiny show consideration for a Noble Outcast (PolyGram, 1991)
• 69–80 (Sonodisc, 1994)
• Folon (Mango, 1995)
• Seydou Bathili (Sonodisc, 1997)
• Papa (Metro Blue, 1999)
• Mama (Capitol, 2000)
• Sosie (Mellemfolkeligt, 2001)
• Moffou (Universal Jazz France, 2002)
• Remixes from Moffou (Universal Jazz France, 2004)
• M'Bemba (Universal Jazz France, 2005)
• The Lost Notebook (Cantos, 1980) – reissued 2005
• La Différence (Emarcy, 2009)
• Talé (Emarcy, 2012)
• Un Autre Blanc (Naïve, 2018)

Many compilations are prolong as well,including:^[16]

• The Mansa of Mali...a Retrospective – 1994
• Rail Band – 1996 – Melodie
• The Best work Salif Keita – 2001 – Wrasse Records
• Salif Keita: The Gain the advantage over of the Early Years – 2002 – Wrasse Records

• Ambassadeur International, Mandjou (Amons, 1978)

Singles

Music videos

^[17]

References

Further reading

External links