Salif Keita

Salif Keïta (born 25 August 1949) is an African singer-songwriter from Mali. He is notable not only because of his reputation as the "Golden Voice of Africa" but also because he has albinism. He is a member of the Keita royal family of Mali. He was born a traditional prince in the village of Djoliba and was cast out by his family and ostracized by the community because of his albinism, a sign of bad luck in Mandinka culture. In 1967, he left Djoliba for Bamako, where he joined the government-sponsored Super Rail Band de Bamako. In 1973 Keita joined the group, Les Ambassadeurs. Keita and Les Ambassadeurs fled political unrest in Mali during the mid-1970s for Abidjan, Ivory Coast, and subsequently changed the group's name to "Les Ambassadeurs Internationaux". The reputation of Les Ambassadeurs Internationaux rose to the international level in the 1970s, and in 1977 Keita received a National Order award from the president of Guinea, Sékou Touré.
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==Links to Peel==
Peel played a couple of tracks from the singer in 1987 via his 'Soro' album. However, he didn't seem to play further material beyond that, according to available tracklistings on this site. His friend and colleague, Andy Kershaw, often played the singer's songs on his radio programmes, including a session recorded in 1989 for his show.
==Shows Played==
;thumb|220x220px1987
*24 August 1987: Wamba (LP - Soro) Stern's Africa
*07 September 1987: Souareba (LP - Soro) Sterns
*1987 (Rockradio): Souareba (LP - Soro) Sterns
==External Links==
*Wikipedia
*Discogs
*Official Website
Category:Artists