Salif Keita

  • Mali
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  • World/International
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  • 1949
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About Salif Keita

Official Site: http://salif-keita.com/


Salif Keita gave up a lot to pursue his dreams of a career in music. Born to royal lineage, with ancestral roots going back to Soundjata Keita, the founder of the Malian Empire in 1240, Keita was disowned by his father after announcing his plans to play music. Keita's dreams, however, were too strong to be shattered. Moving to the capitol city of Bamako in 1967, he was soon playing in nightclubs with one of his brothers. Within two years, he was invited to join the Rail Band. A popular, government-sponsored group that played regularly at the Buffet Hotel de la Gare, the Rail Band featured influential Malian guitar player Kante Manfila. Keita's soulful singing soon brought the band to a much higher plateau. In 1973, Keita and several members of the Rail Band relocated to Abidjian, the capitol of Cote d'Ivoire (The Ivory Coast). Renamed Les Ambassadeurs Internationaux, the group continued to attract attention with their lively fusion of Cuban, Zairean, and Malian influences.

In 1977, Keita received the prestigious National Order of Guinea from President Ahmed Sekou Toure. Encouraged to pursue a solo career, Keita moved to Paris in 1984. Settling in the city's Montreuil section, he found a thriving community of more than 15,000 transplanted Malians. Predictions of success proved true with the release of Keita's debut solo album, Soro, in 1987. Produced by Ibrahim Sylla, the album combined African, jazz, funk, Europop, and R&B influences. Keita continued his recording career with several releases for Mango throughout the '90s, including the Mansa of Mali anthology, before moving to Blue Note for Papa in 1999 and then Decca, where he debuted with Moffou in 2002. Moffou was considered some of Keita's finest work to date, and he received a Grammy nomination for the album. Keita then returned to Bamako, Mali, in order to record his next full-length effort, M'Bemba, which came out in 2006. ~ Craig Harris, Rovi

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Photos

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  • Universal
    Salif Keita
    Universal
    Lucille Reyboz

Tour Dates

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  • Jun 7 Friday
    Saint-Pierre, Reunion Sakifo Music Festival
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  • Jun 28 Friday
    Brussels, Belgium Tour&Taxi
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  • Jun 30 Sunday
    Brussels, Belgium Unknown venue
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  • Jul 2 Tuesday
    Istres, France Pavillon de Grignan
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  • Jul 19 Friday
    Meze, France Meze Sur Le Port
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  • Jul 26 Friday
    Vence, France Place Du Grand Jardin
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  • Jul 28 Sunday
    Lyon, France Théâtres Romains De Fourvière
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Discography

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  • Talé (2012)
    Salif Keita
    Talé (2012)
    Wrasse
  • La Différence (2010)
    Salif Keita
    La Différence (2010)
    Universal
  • M'Bemba (2005)
    Salif Keita
    M'Bemba (2005)
    Universal International
  • Madan Exotic (2004)
    Salif Keita
    Madan Exotic (2004)
    Universal Distribution
  • Remixes from Moffou (2004)
    Salif Keita
    Remixes from Moffou (2004)
    Decca
  • Moffou (2002)
    Salif Keita
    Moffou (2002)
    Decca
  • Sosie (2001)
    Salif Keita
    Sosie (2001)
    Mellemfolkeligt
  • Papa (1999)
    Salif Keita
    Papa (1999)
    Blue Note Records
  • Seydou Bathili (1997)
    Salif Keita
    Seydou Bathili (1997)
    Sonodisc--Pam
  • Rail Band (1996)
    Salif Keita
    Rail Band (1996)
    Melodie
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