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).
Tono
Salif Keïta Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
O laka lamma le
O laka lamma le dja
O laka lamma le
Se jolaka lamma le
Se jolaka lamma le
Se jolaka lamma le dja
Se jolaka lamma le
O laka lamma le
O laka lamma le
O laka lamma le dja
O laka lamma le
Se jolaka lamma le
Se jolaka lamma le
Se jolaka lamma le dja
Se jolaka lamma le
Ay ihe geba geta singurna, yeah
Ilina in a nara sa
Oh, oh
Ili la serna najih neja
Ilina ina nara
Ilina ina nara sa
Ili la serna najih neja
Ilina ina nara
A sid la nemma ra do m'sebbe toggorro no yee
Tama yoo pabba yo
A sid la nemma ra do m'sebbe toggorro no yee m'o
Tama yoo o' pabba ho fago pib'ee
Ori tali ma je'ye
Ori tali ma je'ye
Ori tali ma je'ye
Ori tali ma je'ye
Ori tali ma
Salif Keita's song Tono is a celebration of African culture and the beauty of the people of the continent while also depicting the struggles they face in their daily lives. The repetitive chorus of "o laka lamma le" and "se jolaka lamma le" can be interpreted as an invocation to the spirits of ancestors or simply a call to dance together. The visceral energy of the words is accompanied by lively drumming and rhythmic guitar, which creates a sense of community and belonging among the audience.
The verse "Ay ihe geba geta singurna" expresses a deep longing for home in a foreign land. The following lines depict the contrasts between the overwhelming beauty of nature and the hardship of human life, with "ilina ina nara" meaning "we the people of the land" and "ili la serna najih neja" meaning "we live in a hurtful world." The lyrics about "Tama yoo pabba yo" and "A sid la nemma ra do m'sebbe toggorro no yee" may refer to issues of poverty and economic inequality.
Overall, Tono is a celebration of African culture and a call for unity within the continent. The repetitive use of specific words and phrases, along with the energetic instrumentation, enhances the song's message and creates a sense of community among its listeners.
Line by Line Meaning
O laka lamma le
I am calling out for help
O laka lamma le
I am calling out for help
O laka lamma le dja
I am calling out for help
O laka lamma le
I am calling out for help
Se jolaka lamma le
Please help me and hear my voice
Se jolaka lamma le
Please help me and hear my voice
Se jolaka lamma le
Please help me and hear my voice
Se jolaka lamma le dja
Please help me and hear my voice
Se jolaka lamma le
Please help me and hear my voice
O laka lamma le
I am calling out for help
O laka lamma le
I am calling out for help
O laka lamma le dja
I am calling out for help
O laka lamma le
I am calling out for help
Se jolaka lamma le
Please help me and hear my voice
Se jolaka lamma le
Please help me and hear my voice
Se jolaka lamma le
Please help me and hear my voice
Se jolaka lamma le dja
Please help me and hear my voice
Se jolaka lamma le
Please help me and hear my voice
Ay ihe geba geta singurna, yeah
I am struggling and suffering greatly
Ilina in a nara sa
But the pain is too much to bear alone
Oh, oh
Ili la serna najih neja
The struggle is too overwhelming
Ilina ina nara
But I cannot give up or be defeated
Ilina ina nara sa
But the pain is too much to bear alone
Ili la serna najih neja
The struggle is too overwhelming
Ilina ina nara
But I cannot give up or be defeated
A sid la nemma ra do m'sebbe toggorro no yee
The weight of this burden is too great for me to carry alone
Tama yoo pabba yo
I need help and support
A sid la nemma ra do m'sebbe toggorro no yee m'o
The weight of this burden is too great for me to carry alone
Tama yoo o' pabba ho fago pib'ee
I need someone to lift me up and carry me forward
Ori tali ma je'ye
I pray for someone to hear me and come to my aid
Ori tali ma je'ye
I pray for someone to hear me and come to my aid
Ori tali ma je'ye
I pray for someone to hear me and come to my aid
Ori tali ma je'ye
I pray for someone to hear me and come to my aid
Ori tali ma
I pray for someone to help me and lift me up
Writer(s): Keita Salif Copyright: Sina Prod. Ltd.
Contributed by Callie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Moaba
These lyrics dont sound anything like whats being sung-Backing or lead
@alyba3980
Quand je l'écoute je pleure comme un enfant malgré mes 50 ans sonnés. Ce gars est vraiment exceptionnel. Suis sénégalais de pere mais ma mere est mandingue...Il secoue mon ame..J'adore cette culture plus que tout au monde.
@ndeyemaremekeita9210
Écoute en 2021 depuis Paris j'adore
@abdoulayetoure2209
Le Sénégal est Mandingue . L’empire du Mali ( pas la république Mali actuel ) était un très grand espace qui regroupait les territoires du Sénégal, du Mali ,de la Guinée, de la Mauritanie, de la Gambie, du Burkina, du nord jusqu’au centre de la CI. La Capitale de l’Empire était Nyani en Guinée . Donc le Mandingue ne s’arrête pas seulement à la république du Mali 🇲🇱. Je t’apprend aussi que la république du Mali et le Sénégal devait former un seul pays mais les présidents Sengorh et Modibo Keita ne sont pas tombés d’accord . Comme la CI et le Burkina même pays . Juste vous dire que vous êtes Mandingue à 100% . 🙏🙏🙏
@guylainblps
@@abdoulayetoure2209 😢😢😢😢😢😢❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Merci beaucoup pour cette histoire
@khalilou346
Longue vie à cette voix magnifique. Quand j'écoute tes chansons j'ai envie de pardonner à toutes les personnes qui m'ont offensés à tord.❤❤❤❤❤❤
@sidykeita5177
Il faut pardonner et être en paix avec toi même, que Dieu te guide. Avec Salif ❤️ il y a plus les mots
@sogbesylla1482
Dieu seul sait d’où provient toute cette inspiration cette chanson a marqué mon enfance longue vie à toi le roi de la music mandingue pour moi tu es le meilleur c’est pas un débat
@bolokadanabateh5010
The king says we should always think of how we will one day end... think of the end..we should walk with each other in life the right way,we should avoid hurting each other.. I will come back to you if you not doing me things that will hurt me .. I love this guy
@sidikycoulibaly6343
Cette chanson me donne la chaire de poule à chaque fois que je l'entends et sa parle d'humanité comment vivre avec ses semblables pour une vie harmonieuse et
meilleure!!!