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Salif Keita (& les Ambassadeurs)
(Mali)
Biography
Salif Keita started his career as a professional singer in 1970,
when he became a singer of one of the two big bands in Mali, the Rail Band.
The Rail Band, that played in the restaurant of the railway station of Bamako, had already started using Malian
musical traditions in addition to Latin classics. In 1973, Salif changed to another big band,
les Ambassadeurs du Motel de Bamako, which was considered making more modern music.
In 1978, the group changed its name to Ambassadeurs Internationaux when key members moved
to Abidjan, in order to look for more possibilities for recording and for reaching new (international) audiences.
In 1984, Salif moved to France and started a solo career and his first solo album, the outstanding « Soro » created a buzz among music fans. The album is seen as innovating because of the, for African music of that decade, particularly high production standards (the album has been produced by François Bréant), and because of the unique mix of beautifully sung African melodies and modern western (electronic) instrumentation. Following albums share the same modernity but lack more and more the African feel.
After the turn of the millennium, Salif went back to Bamako where he recorded a semi-acoustic album « Moffou », which was again a benchmark. By then, Keita had created a cultural centre with a club, and added to this a recording studio, all baptised Moffou, in order to promote the talent of young artists. Later albums such as « M’bemba » and « La différence » share the same mix between melodic compositions, the use of predominantly acoustic instruments and Salif's soaring voice.
If it was for tradition, we wouldn't have heard this voice at all. Being born into a noble family, said to be a direct descendant from the Keita dynasty (ruling the Mali empire from the 12th till the early 17th century), Salif had no right to sing in public. In addition, being an albino, which is seen as a sign of bad luck in malinké culture, he was often alone, and discriminated and so he sought relieve in playing on his guitar. From his early successes, such as « Mandjou » (1978), for which Guinean president Sekou Touré granted him a degree of National Order of Guinea, to collaborations with Wayne Shorter, Joe Zawinul, Carlos Santana and others, we can only be thankful for it that this tradition has not been respected.
In 1984, Salif moved to France and started a solo career and his first solo album, the outstanding « Soro » created a buzz among music fans. The album is seen as innovating because of the, for African music of that decade, particularly high production standards (the album has been produced by François Bréant), and because of the unique mix of beautifully sung African melodies and modern western (electronic) instrumentation. Following albums share the same modernity but lack more and more the African feel.
After the turn of the millennium, Salif went back to Bamako where he recorded a semi-acoustic album « Moffou », which was again a benchmark. By then, Keita had created a cultural centre with a club, and added to this a recording studio, all baptised Moffou, in order to promote the talent of young artists. Later albums such as « M’bemba » and « La différence » share the same mix between melodic compositions, the use of predominantly acoustic instruments and Salif's soaring voice.
If it was for tradition, we wouldn't have heard this voice at all. Being born into a noble family, said to be a direct descendant from the Keita dynasty (ruling the Mali empire from the 12th till the early 17th century), Salif had no right to sing in public. In addition, being an albino, which is seen as a sign of bad luck in malinké culture, he was often alone, and discriminated and so he sought relieve in playing on his guitar. From his early successes, such as « Mandjou » (1978), for which Guinean president Sekou Touré granted him a degree of National Order of Guinea, to collaborations with Wayne Shorter, Joe Zawinul, Carlos Santana and others, we can only be thankful for it that this tradition has not been respected.
Salif Keita
Musicians on the LP Mandjou (1978):
Kanté Manfila chef d'orchestre, solo guitar
Cissoko Moussa saxophone (alto-tenor)
Traoré Kabine (Tagus) trumpet
Salif Keita vocals
Ousmane Dia vocals
Sambou Diakité vocals
Nouhoun Keita drums
Guests:
Ousmane Kouyaté guitar
Sekou Diabaté bass
Cheikh Smith orgue
Born: 25 August, 1949, in Djoliba (40km South of Bamako, on the Niger River)
Style: Mandingo music, both traditional and modernised
Discography
| Title | Year | Label | Remarks |
| Un autre blanc | 2018 | Salif Keita/ Naïve (a Believe SAS Division) | Release date 26 October |
| Talé | 2012 | Emarcy / Universal Music | |
| La différence | 2009 | Emarcy / Universal Music | Benefits of the album are for the SOS Albinos foundation |
| 20th Century Masters | 2007 | Universal Music | The Millennium Collection |
| M’Bemba | 2005 | Emarcy / Universal Music | |
| Remixes from Moffou | 2004 | Universal Music France | |
| The Best of the Early Years | 2002 | Wrasse Records WRASS 083 | Compilation, including songs with the Rail Band |
| Moffou | 2002 | Universal Music France 016 906-2 | |
| Golden Voice : The Best of Salif Keita | 2001 | Wrasse Records WRASS 059 | 2CD Compilation |
| Papa | 1999 | Metro Blue/ Capitol Records 499070-2 | |
| Sosie | 1997 | MS Verdenshjørnet DKMS 9600 | French "chansons" |
| Folon | 1995 | Mango CDIM 1108 | |
| 69-80 | 1994 | Sonodisc CD 74646 | Sampler of 1969-80 recordings |
| The Mansa of Mali...A Retrospective | 1994 | Mango 20849-2 | Sampler of 1987-93 recordings plus 1978 Mandjou |
| L'Enfant Lion | 1993 | Island | O.S.T. of l'Enfant Lion, a film made by Patrick Grandperret |
| Amen | 1991 | Mango 261694 | |
| Ko-Yan | 1989 | Island 259850 | |
| Soro | 1987 | Island / F: Pathé Marconi EMI (LP) | Also Sterns STCD 1020 (UK) / Mango CCD 9808 |
| Albums with les Ambassadeurs internationaux: | |||
| Rebirth | 2015 | World Village | CD (4-track EP) |
| Tounkan / Mana Mani | 2010 | Universal Music/Emarcy | 2CD compilation |
| Mandjou / Seydou Bathily | 2010 | Universal Music/Emarcy | 2CD compilation |
| Classics Titles | 2006 | Cantos | Compilation CD |
| Tounkan | 1984 | Celluloid CEL 6717 | LP |
| Primpin | 1983 | Celluloid CEL 6640 | LP |
| Djougouya | 1982 | AS Records AS 008 | LP, also on Celluloid CEL 6635 |
| Mandjou | 1978 | Badmos BLP 5040 | Also on Celluloid CEL 6721 (1984) |
| Albums with les Ambassadeurs du Motel: | |||
| Vol. 2: Les Ambassadeurs Du Motel De Bamako | 1977 | Sonafric SAF 50031 | LP |
| Vol. 1: Les Ambassadeurs Du Motel De Bamako | 1977 | Sonafric SAF 50030 | LP |
| Les Ambassadeurs Du Motel | 1976 | Sonafric SAF 50.014 | LP |
| Albums with Manfila Kanté: | |||
| Salif Keïta & Kanté Manfila - The Lost Album |
2005 | Cantos | Compilation, with 3 unreleased tracks composed by Kemo Kouyaté |
| Dans l'authenticité, Vol.2 | 1979 | Badmos BLP 5032 | LP |
| Dans l'authenticité, Vol.1 | 1979 | Badmos BLP 5031 | LP |
| For the Rail Band discography, see our Rail Band page (link) | |||
Page added February 1998