LET'S MEET AND GREET SALIF KEITA (GOLDEN VOICE OF AFRICA)

Popularly called the Golden Voice of Africa, the albino, Salif Keita (born 25, August 1949) through his global fame also made the hue of his skin golden. 

TOP 57 SALIF KEITA SONGS PLAYLIST [VIDEO]

A native of the Malian city of Djoliba, this powerful Afro-pop musician did have a pretty rough time growing up as he was segregated and in plain language ostracized by both his family and his village because he was seen as 'cursed' due to his albinism. The belief which made Salif Keita have an unpleasant childhood, because of his skin type and its color, was deeply rooted in his native Mandinka culture which frowned on people living with albinism.

Living with and through this stigma was no joke but the young Salif took it upon himself in 1967 to sojourn from his hometown of Djoliba away from all the ill-treatment of his family and community to Bamako where his life took a new turn. 

Bamako was where Salif discovered his musical talent and went on to join the then Super Rail Band de Bamako (A government-sponsored band and one of the biggest musical bands in Mali at the time), he later moved on in 1973 to join the musical band Les Ambassadeurs, it was in this musical group the gifted Salif hit fame. 

Following the rising political crisis in the country during the mid-70s, the musical band LES AMBASSADEURS along with its lead singer Salif Keita fled Mali to Abidjan, Ivory Coast. It was in this musical band that Salif became famous, as the band went on to rebrand itself as LES AMBASSADEURS INTERNATIONAUX.

The musical band Les Ambassadeur Internationaux became widely famous in the 1970s, this paved way for its lead singer - Salif Keita - to be singled out by the then Guinean President, Sekou Toure for a National Order Award in 1977. 

Salif Keita went solo shortly afterwards as he moved to Paris in 1984 to rev-up a musical career that has spanned decades and still waxing strong. Salif Keita employs socio-cultural West African music styles with both European and traditional sounds from across the world fused together to produce his unique brand of Afro-pop music. 

Salif Keita's type of music is what is called a musician's music or music for a musician as it is vastly musical instrument intensive. Salif Keita employs the use of the kora, saxophone, guitar, balafon, organ, synthesizer and djembe instruments to produce his unique brand of music.

 Recognized globally to this day as an African music icon and legend, Salif Keita has the following popular musical albums to his credit, including: 

• Seydou Bathili (1982)

• Soro (1987)

• Ko Yan (1989)

• Amen (1991)

• Destiny of a Noble Outcast (1991)

• Folon (1995)

• Rail Band (1996)

• Seydou Batili RMX (1997)

• Papa (1999)

• Mama (2000)

• The Best of Salif Keita (2001)

• Moffou (2002)

• M'Bemba (2005)

• The Lost Album of 1980 (2005)

• La Difference (2009)

Salif Keita is internationally known for using his music to draw the attention of the world to the plight of peoples living with albinism especially in Africa as this set of people go through a lot of pain. It will surprise you to know that people living with albinism in Africa are seen as outcasts within the society and most African cultures secretly use albinos for human sacrifices of various purposes. Also, Keita is respected worldwide as a social crusader for better living conditions in Africa.