He was outcast by his family & ostracized by the community, because he was an albino - a sign of bad luck in Mandinka culture. In 1967, he left Djoliba for Bamako, where he joined the government sponsored Super Rail Band de Bamako (aka Super Rail Band). In 1973, Keita joined the group Les Ambassadeurs. Keita and Les Ambassadeurs fled political unrest in Mali during the mid-1970s for Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire & changed the group's name to Les Ambassadeurs Internationales. The reputation of Les Ambassadeurs Internationales rose to the international level in the 1970s and in 1977 Keita received a National Order award from the president of Guinea, Sékou Touré.
Keita moved to Paris in 1984 to reach a larger audience. His music combines traditional West African music styles with influences from both Europe and the Americas, while maintaining an overall Islamic style. Musical instruments that are commonly featured in Keita's work include balafon, djembe, guitar, kora, organ, saxophone, and synthesizer.
His latest album, M'Bemba, was released in October 2005.
This 'Bio' is copied from the Salif Keita page. Apparently there is question about the correct spelling of his name (with single or double dotted i).
La Différence
Salif Keïta Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ma peau est blanche
Et moi j'aime bien ça
C'est La Différence qui est jolie
Je suis un blanc
Mon sang est noir
Et moi j'adore ça
Je voudrais
Que nous nous entendions dans l'amour
Que nous nous comprenions dans l'amour et dans la paix
(Refrain) x2:
La vie sera belle x3
Chacun à son tour aura son amour
La vie sera belle x3
Chacun dans l'honneur
Aura son bonheur
La vie sera belle
Dô finai bai
Dô djélè
Dô kagni
Dô magni
O bai yé couleur kaon ka gnyoro dafa
(Refrain)
Ny y bai né fai
Y yé né ka fima fai
Fima bai né fai
Né finé dô
Ny y bai né fai
Y yé né ka djémai fai
Djémain bai né fai
Né djélè do
Ny fina
A li yérè kai é bachi yé
Allah yé fima dai
Djéma dai kan ka gnorota kan ka gnoro dafa
(Refrain) x3
The song "La Différence" by Salif Keita is a powerful statement on the beauty of diversity and the need for love and understanding to overcome prejudice and hate. The lyrics address the fact that the singer is a black man with white skin, and a white man with black blood. Instead of denying or feeling ashamed of these identities, the singer embraces them as part of what makes him unique and beautiful. He sings that it is the differences between people that are truly beautiful, and that we should strive to understand and love each other despite these differences.
The chorus emphasizes the message of love and understanding, with a hopeful message that life will be beautiful if we can all find love and happiness in our own way, while honoring and supporting the diversity of others. The final verse emphasizes the spiritual aspect of this message, declaring that God loves and celebrates all people, and that we should follow this example by treating each other with respect and kindness.
One interesting fact about this song is that it was released in 2009, during a time of political upheaval and violence in Mali, where Salif Keita is from. The song's message of hope and unity was a much-needed antidote to the divisions and conflicts that were tearing Mali apart. The song also became an anthem for disabled people, as Salif Keita himself is albino and has faced discrimination and prejudice because of this.
Line by Line Meaning
Je suis un noir
I am a black person
Ma peau est blanche
But my skin is white
Et moi j'aime bien ça
And I like it that way
C'est La Différence qui est jolie
It's the difference that is beautiful
Je suis un blanc
I am a white person
Mon sang est noir
But my blood is black
Et moi j'adore ça
And I love it
C'est La Différence qui est jolie
It's the difference that is beautiful
Je voudrais
I would like
Que nous nous entendions dans l'amour
That we get along in love
Que nous nous comprenions dans l'amour et dans la paix
That we understand each other in love and peace
(Refrain) x2:
Chorus (repeated twice):
La vie sera belle x3
Life will be beautiful (repeated thrice)
Chacun à son tour aura son amour
Everyone will have their turn for love
Chacun dans l'honneur
Each with honor
Aura son bonheur
Will have their happiness
La vie sera belle
Life will be beautiful
Dô finai bai
White skin
Dô djélè
Black blood
Dô kagni
A human being
Dô magni
A person
O bai yé couleur kaon ka gnyoro dafa
And the skin color does not matter
(Refrain)
Chorus:
Ny y bai né fai
My skin color may be
Y yé né ka fima fai
Different from yours
Fima bai né fai
But that doesn't matter
Né finé dô
We are still human beings
Ny y bai né fai
My skin color may be
Y yé né ka djémai fai
Different from your culture
Djémain bai né fai
But that doesn't matter
Né djélè do
We are still people
Ny fina
We are all
A li yérè kai é bachi yé
Children of God
Allah yé fima dai
God created us all
Djéma dai kan ka gnorota kan ka gnoro dafa
Belonging to different cultures does not matter
(Refrain) x3
Chorus (repeated thrice)
Writer(s): Salif Keita, Patrice Olivier Renson Copyright: Universal Music Publishing
Contributed by Grace W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@abalorladakor
Une des belles chanson au monde et je pèse mes mots. Une des plus belles version aussi. Salif tu m'amènes aux larmes mon frère, merci pour l'humanité invisible et pourtant si claire de chacune de tes notes . Juan Rozoff.
@59audmer
Sublime. Pur. Beau. Sage. Respect ! Merci Salif Keita pour cette chanson très touchante et pleine d'amour. La classe.
@esmecamara2268
Un grand respect pour salif keita.vous etez un grand monssieur.merci.pour toute vos belles chanssons..
@SainteAnne97
Un homme au destin exceptionnel...... Merci de laisser des traces....
@heidimuller5657
pas des comments .......... seulment le plus respect pour une genie
@oumarsarr976
chapeau l'artiste et thank pour ce pur moment de bonheur
@mamadidioubate5643
Un artiste hors du commun
@ARACHNEENS
Bravo magnifique, et je pèse mes mots! Tout est dit dans la chanson!
@alphabah4072
beautiful and smooth with great meaning always love u papa Salif from Sierra Leone
@ibnshafqat
i dont have words i just can say too pain in his voice ,,, love ya man alwaz you will be my favorite