Salif Keita, born in Djoliba, Mali 1949, is a internationally renowned afro-pop singer-songwriter and a direct descendant of the founder of the Mali Empire,Sundiata Keita.This royal heritage meant that he should never have become a singer, which was deemed to be a groit story teller's role. He was outcast by his family and ostracized by the community because he was an albino, a sign of bad luck in Mandinka culture. As a child he suffered greatly from social isolation, and was even kicked out of school because of his albinism. Today, he is known around the world as the Golden Voice of Africa and has been cited as “perhaps the greatest talent
His first major US breakthrough into the mainstream audiences was a prominent feature on the soundtrack to Will Smith’s blockbuster movie ‘Ali’, an homage to boxing Legend Muhammad Ali. In 2003, Salif Keita maintained his status as an international sensation with his 2003 release called Moffou composed with rhythms that blend African, Spanish, Portuguese and other sounds. Moffou is also the name of the club the singer built in the Malian capital of Bamako to promote West African artists and music.
In December 2004, he was named United Nations Ambassador for Music and Sports and dedicated himself to causes like Malaria, AIDS and the plight of Albinos in
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