Africa Top Success Ils font l'Afrique
The event took place without making a song and dance but he is nevertheless a great man.
The Malian artist Salif Keïta was raised to the rank of Commander of the national order of the Merit of Tunisia on 21st June by the Tunisian President, Moncef Marzouki. The ceremony got the presence of the Malian Minister of Culture Ramatoulaye DIALLO.
He has made the pride of Mali and the whole Africa for several decades. Born in Djoliba on 25th August 1949, Salif Keïta, descendant of Soundjata Keita, founding king of the Mali Empire, was facing a very big challenge from his childhood: his skin color. In a region where albinos are badly perceived, Salif has to support the inquisitive looks of some and discriminations of others in order to find his way.
In front of refusal of his parents to see the prince singing as a griot, the latter decided to take a new adventure to Bamako where he joined the Rail band group of Bamako.
The first album of the artist, « Mandjou » that praises the Guinean President Ahmed Sékou Touré and the Mandingue people, raised his success to the international level. Since then, he has multiplied tours and all these titles are hits.
In 1989, the single « Nou pas bouger » got a colossal success in all French-speaking Africa and in the West Indies, using at the most the technological innovations regarding programming, production and recording. This title is an ode for the dignity and the resistance in the difficult fights led by the African immigrants in order to be, socially, economically and politically integrated in France and in the West, it what could read on his official site.
Today, the monument of the African music counts more than ten albums to his credit. Winners of several awards among which the one of the Kora in 2004, he was appointed Ambassador of peace by Jean Ping, chairman of the African Union commission in 2010.
Original text by: Blaise AKAME
