1. Salif Keita is a member of the Keita royal family of Mali.
20 Facts About Salif Keita
1. 2.
Salif Keita was born a traditional prince in the village of Djoliba.
3.
Salif Keita was born to the Keita royal family, who trace their lineage to Sundiata Keita, founder of the Mali Empire.
4.
Salif Keita was cast out by his family and ostracized by the community because of his albinism, a sign of bad luck in Mandinka culture.
5.
Salif Keita decided to pursue music in his teenage years, further distancing him from his family as that was against occupational prohibitions of his noble status.
6.
In 1973, Salif Keita joined the group Les Ambassadeurs.
7.
The reputation of this band grew internationally in the late-1970s, leading to Salif Keita pursuing a solo career in the following years.
8.
Salif Keita is the father of Paralympian athlete Nantenin Keita.
9.
Salif Keita moved to Paris in 1984 to reach a larger audience and to pursue a solo career.
10.
Salif Keita's music combined traditional West African music styles with influences from both Europe and the Americas.
11.
At that time, Salif Keita was famous in Africa and had a strong fan base among connoisseurs around the world.
12.
Musical instruments that are commonly featured in Salif Keita's work include balafons, djembes, guitars, koras, organs, saxophones, and synthesizers.
13.
Salif Keita performed at the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute concert in 1988 to call for Nelson Mandela's release from prison.
14.
Salif Keita found success in Europe as one of the African stars of world music, but his work was sometimes criticised for the gloss of its production and for the occasional haphazard quality.
15.
The work is dedicated to the struggle of the world albino community, for which Salif Keita has been crusading all his life.
16.
Salif Keita uses Traditional African instruments such as the djembe, kora and balafon are quite prevalent in his sounded.
17.
Salif Keita has been able to sing to non-traditional instrumentalization.
18.
Salif Keita has over 15 albums and Keita counts Un Autre Blanc as his swan song.
19.
Salif Keita was to act as legislative body from 2020 till his resignation of 31 July 2023.
20.
Salif Keita faced significant challenges in his native land of Mali, particularly among the Mandinka people, where his condition was regarded as an illness.