BIOGRAPHY:  Salif keita

Salif Keïta arisen is the August 25, 1949 to Djoliba (Mali). It is albino (black to white skin), and since its birth, is rejected by his pairs who see him in a prepared to be maléfiques powers. Its descent, in direct line of the founder of the empire of Mali to the thirteenth century Sundjata Keïta, nevertheless allows him to grow in a universe favorite. Little if Salif refuge in studies and in listening to the board Griot, and the narrators singers circulated via the oral tradition. In 1968, his dream of becoming a teacher turns sharply below its problems and is therefore light verse of the career musician who tour. Party to Bamako where the arias sings traditional interpreted in modern way in the group "Rail Band of Bamako." In 1973, changes in group integrates "ambassadors" tour in a large part of Africa. In 1978, the Group records its first album "Mandjou" and then in 1980, after a mécène the gift, the group recorded two albums part to united states.
In 1984, Salif match France during festival and decides to settle for testers to breaking. At the sight of his talent, and his extraordinary voice Unknown ago quickly if a name in the African Community of Paris. In 1987, records his first album, "Soro" clever mixes of the roc sang blues and in a frank and earns immediately successful Salif behaves in a round world. Salif gives then remained to the summit of his fame and advantage to help children through to albino un'una association that has created, or to his country singers learn a recording studio to Bamako. In 2004, Salif makes settle in Mali with women and children (11 times father is) closer to its ancestral roots, but does not abandon continuous music and singing on American and European scenes. End 2005, leaves the album "dr. Bemba", which once again earns a princier success.

The Kora

The kora is an African harp of the family "to bridge harps" or harp lute.
The African stringed instrument most elaborate. The music and the construction of this instrument are unique in monde.La kora is practiced in all cultures Mandingo.
This instrument is played by the Mandingo "of the West" in the Gambia, Senegal, Guinea in Malinke, Bambara Mali, the Dioulas in Cote d'Ivoire.

The kora is the result of a tradition dating back several centuries and was performed in the courts of kings where the griots and musicians were part of personnel.Ils are mediators between the nobility and the people. It is in this category the "griots.

The griots are musicians of this company. They are above all speakers, transmitting their savoir.Ils perpetuate the history of the Mandingo people through their songs. The griot sings the praises of the noble family to which it is attached. He is the guarantor of an ancestral memory.

The Balafon

The gourds, growing in size as well, pierced with one or more holes covered Traditionally a spider's web, or most commonly a small plastic film or cigarette paper.
The number of slats of balafon varies depending on the region where it is played, and the agreement we want to give him. It is generally granted pentatonic (a range of 5 notes) but can be both diatonic (a range of 7 notes).
In West Africa, especially in countries Mandingo from where it originates, the balafon is played by griots.

The Djembé


The Dundun is a cylindrical drum with two skins. Its sounding board is made of wood.
The musician produces the sound using a wooden stick.
The Djembe is covered with goat skin between two fixed ropes placed at the base of the mortar.
The rate at which we heard is triggered and ends with a call (djembe). It allows musicians to prepare and finish together. This rate, called "sofa", was played to encourage men in combat.
The Djembé accompanies the song and dance. The pace of village events (birth, marriage, war, work in the fields). It is not achieved only because it is part of a whole rhythm.

RAIL BAND feat. MORY KANTE

This group is among the mythical formations in West Africa who gave shape to "rock Mandingo." Managed governed by the Railway Mali, it was founded in 1969 at the request of Ally Diallo, head of the station in Bamako, in order to facilitate the bar of his highly prized Buffet Hotel, where it is found incorporations.

During the past twenty years in this Mecca of friendliness and celebration, the superb dance machine that is the Rail Band will enable many Malian musicians to learn about music and Malinke Bambara transposed on modern instruments (electric guitars, brass ,… battery). The musicians will also adapt a specialty music in vogue at various times: Afro-Cuban, afrobeat, pop, funk, French varieties…

Its first conductor, saxophonist Tidiane Koné came from a family of griot. He will know recruit the best musicians from the square, as Djelimady Tounkara on guitar, or Ledy Youla Kabiné Keïta on saxophone, and especially singers… One of the first among them is none other than Salif Keita, embarked on a stroke of luck: "Three singers were chosen in bars, including myself, Salif says. One of them fled in the midst of a rehearsal, a week after being chosen. And the day the Rail Band should choose its singer among the two remaining, one which should have been hired, did not come. They had to do with me… "Mory Kanté, meanwhile, was recruited in 1971 to guitar and balafon.

But when 1973 Salif Keita share join the Ambassadors, a group of rival Rail Band, Mory captures the micro with talent. It covers a wide variety of styles, including s'illustrant in chunks of pure funk to James Brown, as "Moko Jolo" or a sauce to afrobeat Mandingo, "Dugu Kamleba" dedicated to Fela. Beyond these songs to dance that are a big hit with young people, Mory Kante also knows rise to the level of initiation music he has followed from childhood within her powerful family of griots. With the Rail Band, and he recorded a few anthology pieces drawn from the great tradition Mandingo, as "exile Soundiata in 1975. It leaves the Rail Band in 1978 to launch a solo career.

After the privatization of railways Malian, the group disperses. In 1990, the producer french Christian Mousset reform the Super Rail Band for a disc, which has the effect of restoring the quality of light "old", as Djelimady Tounkara and Kabiné Keïta, and back on their feet indémodable music.