Salif Keita- The golden voice of Africa
IT would seem ridiculous to call world renowned musician Salif Keita an unfortunate man. Okay, he is an albino and in most places in Africa, that would be very unfortunate, especially in Tanzania where his kind are hunted for their body parts by witchdoctors.<br>
By Kalungi Kabuye
IT would seem ridiculous to call world renowned musician Salif Keita an unfortunate man. Okay, he is an albino and in most places in Africa, that would be very unfortunate, especially in Tanzania where his kind are hunted for their body parts by witchdoctors.
But the Malian musician has transcended bigger barriers (including being abandoned by his family, who believed he was bad luck), and achieved international success as one of the leading African stars of ‘World Music.’ And therein is the problem.
If you asked the average Ugandan what world music is they would probably say rock, and explain that it is played international thus it is world music.
And that is why the acknowledged singer, song-writer will not fill up the Serena Conference Centre when he plays there tonight (Friday).
And after last week’s Jazz Safari, Kampala’s corporate class probably had their night out and will be reluctant to fork out another sh100,000 for a singer many have never heard about. Which is really sad.
And it did not help that up to the end of last week Salif Keita’s Kampala coming was still just a rumour.
For such a respected international singer to come to town with hardly any publicity is almost criminal. Somebody has to really up their game.
Whatever happens tonight, the few Ugandans who get a taste of the Malian afro-pop singer, song-writer referred to as the ‘Golden Voice of Africa’ should have an experience to talk about the rest of their lives.
For Salif Keita is a unique man. Born in Mali, he is a direct descendant of Sundiata Keita, founder of the Mali Empire we all studied about in our history classes.
Being a royal, that should have stopped him from being a singer, but he ignored it, and the world is the richer for that. But typically his countrymen and neighbours did not think much of his music, and he took it to Europe, where he found success as a star of that strange genre called World Music.
His style combines traditional West African music with European and American influences.
He has produced several albums, but his latest, La Difference (2009), is his biggest yet and won Keita the Best World Music 2010 award. The theme of being an albino runs through the album, a fight he has been involved in the whole of his life.
Many Ugandans probably first heard the word ‘Afro-pop’ when the PAM Awards were introduced in 2005 as one of the categories. If you are not sure what Afro-pop is, this is your chance to experience the best.
I really hope I am proved wrong and Serena fills to the rafters and the sound of Salif Keita resonates as we pay libations to an immense talent.
IT would seem ridiculous to call world renowned musician Salif Keita an unfortunate man. Okay, he is an albino and in most places in Africa, that would be very unfortunate, especially in Tanzania where his kind are hunted for their body parts by witchdoctors.
But the Malian musician has transcended bigger barriers (including being abandoned by his family, who believed he was bad luck), and achieved international success as one of the leading African stars of ‘World Music.’ And therein is the problem.
If you asked the average Ugandan what world music is they would probably say rock, and explain that it is played international thus it is world music.
And that is why the acknowledged singer, song-writer will not fill up the Serena Conference Centre when he plays there tonight (Friday).
And after last week’s Jazz Safari, Kampala’s corporate class probably had their night out and will be reluctant to fork out another sh100,000 for a singer many have never heard about. Which is really sad.
And it did not help that up to the end of last week Salif Keita’s Kampala coming was still just a rumour.
For such a respected international singer to come to town with hardly any publicity is almost criminal. Somebody has to really up their game.
Whatever happens tonight, the few Ugandans who get a taste of the Malian afro-pop singer, song-writer referred to as the ‘Golden Voice of Africa’ should have an experience to talk about the rest of their lives.
For Salif Keita is a unique man. Born in Mali, he is a direct descendant of Sundiata Keita, founder of the Mali Empire we all studied about in our history classes.
Being a royal, that should have stopped him from being a singer, but he ignored it, and the world is the richer for that. But typically his countrymen and neighbours did not think much of his music, and he took it to Europe, where he found success as a star of that strange genre called World Music.
His style combines traditional West African music with European and American influences.
He has produced several albums, but his latest, La Difference (2009), is his biggest yet and won Keita the Best World Music 2010 award. The theme of being an albino runs through the album, a fight he has been involved in the whole of his life.
Many Ugandans probably first heard the word ‘Afro-pop’ when the PAM Awards were introduced in 2005 as one of the categories. If you are not sure what Afro-pop is, this is your chance to experience the best.
I really hope I am proved wrong and Serena fills to the rafters and the sound of Salif Keita resonates as we pay libations to an immense talent.