African Celebrities: Salif Keita

Salif Keita is an afro - pop singer - songwriter from Mali. He was born on August 25, 1949 in the village of Djoliba. He was cast out by his family and ostracized by the community because of his albinism, a sign of bad luck in Mandika culture. Salif Keita is a direct descendant of the founder of the Mali Empire, Sundiata Keita. He left Djoliba for Bamakoin 1967, where he joined the government sponsored Super Rail Band de Bamako. In 1983 he joined the group, Les Ambassadeurs.

Salif Keita moved to Paris in 1984 to reach a larger audience. His music combines traditional West African music styles with influences from both Europe and the Americas. Musical instruments that are commonly featured in Keita's work include balafons, djembes, guitars, koras, organs, saxophones and synthesizers.

After spending quite some time in Europe Keita returned to Bamako in Mali to live and record. His first work after going home, 2002's Moffou was hailed as his best album in many years. Keita was inspired to build a recording studio in Bamako, which he used for his album M'Bemba, released in October 2005. Keita's album, La Difference, was produced around the end of 2009. The work is dedicated to the struggle of the world albino community, for which Keita has been crusading all his life. La Difference won Keita one of the biggest musical awards for his career: the Best World Music 2010 at the Victoires de la musique.

Salif Keita is the father of Paralympian athlete Nantenin Keita.