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).
Tonton
Salif Keïta Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Kokegna mô lou bola gniokoma
Ko tchama lé molou bola gniokona
Mali kolou mô lou bola gniokoma
Kwakolo mô lou bola gniokoma
Ko tchama lé môlou bola gniokono
Missi dé noni ni missi tigi té kelénié
Iyayé ni koyoyé té kélénié
Né kanou lé ko – Ni kélé ni yarabi ni chérie kô
Ah konoukognofo kô
Né yarabi dé kô ka le te maloya fè
Ko ka la maloya
Ah konoukognofo kô koumana
Diana môko ko ka le te yanfa fè
Ko ka le dianfa yo
Ah konoukognofo kô koumana
Bi mô magni attention
Ah tonton fini san gnié
Ah tonton selimafini dé ma
Ah tonton fini san gnié
Diana môko fini gnio lé fè – Nani bali fini sou djonko
Diana môko yoro tan fini né fè
Diana môko fini do lé ko
Nani bali fini sou djonko
Diana môko yoro tan fini né fè
Ow oh ana marié yoma - Ana marié yoma
Ow oh Boss ana voyagé i sagola
Ana ana voyagé i yonfè
Diana mô na mi fo lassa - Ah kogniokofo na ra
Ah yaribi na kouma kan ka
Néni yarabi koumana
Ah kogniokonofo na ra
Oh Barika barika bé douaou lé ko
Douaou dé na ki fo lassa
Ah kogniokofo na ra
Ow Barika barika bé douaou lé fè
Douaou dé na ki fo lassa
Ah kogniokonofo na ra
Ah neni yarabi be kouma ka kan
Néni yarabi koumana
Mi gniogné – bê diana mô - Mi gniogné – Allah non nê
Diaraby ko le dianakô te sa
Mi gniogné – bê diana mô - Mi gniogné – Allah non nê
Diaraby ko le dianakô te sa
The song Tonton by Salif Keita is a tribute to his late uncle, Tonton, who was a well-known musician in Bamako, Mali. The song begins with a series of repetitive sentences that mean "wherever you are, I think of you." These lines represent the love and respect that Keita had for his uncle, even after his death. The rest of the song reflects on the impact that Tonton had on Keita's life and career as a musician. Keita recalls the lessons and advice that his uncle gave him and how they continue to inspire and guide him.
The lyrics of Tonton are laced with references to Keita's Mandinka heritage and the importance of spirituality in his life. He invokes Allah and speaks of his relationship with his religion, highlighting the fact that music and spirituality are deeply intertwined in Malian culture. Another recurring theme in the song is the idea of travel, which can be interpreted both literally and metaphorically. Keita acknowledges the hardships that come with being a travelling musician, but also expresses gratitude for the experiences and opportunities that music has brought him.
Line by Line Meaning
Baraya mô lou bola gniokoma
Baraya has long hair and she loves herself
Kokegna mô lou bola gniokoma
Kokegna has long hair and she loves herself
Ko tchama lé molou bola gniokona
Moving bodies swaying as they dance joyfully
Mali kolou mô lou bola gniokoma
The people of Mali have long hair and they love themselves
Kwakolo mô lou bola gniokoma
Kwakolo has long hair and she loves herself
Ko tchama lé môlou bola gniokono
Moving bodies swaying as they dance joyfully
Missi dé noni ni missi tigi té kelénié
They have come together to dance and sing
Toungna ni faniya té kélénié
The drums and the rhythm of the music call to them
Iyayé ni koyoyé té kélénié
Everyone joins in the dance and the song
Né kanou lé ko – Ni kélé ni yarabi ni chérie kô
There's no need to be alone when you can have love, music and dance
Ah konoukognofo kô
Come and join us
Né yarabi dé kô ka le te maloya fè
Even the beloved should come and experience this joy
Ko ka la maloya
Experience and participate in the Maloya dance
Ah konoukognofo kô koumana
Come and join us all
Diana môko ko ka le te yanfa fè
Invite Diana to come and dance with us
Ko ka le dianfa yo
Invite Diana to come and dance with us
Bi mô magni attention
We pay attention to each other
Ah tonton fini san gnié
Uncle Tonton has finally left
Ah tonton selimafini dé ma
Uncle Selimafini has arrived
Diana môko fini gnio lé fè – Nani bali fini sou djonko
Diana has left the dance, but others will take her place
Diana môko yoro tan fini né fè
She may have left, but the dance continues without her
Diana môko fini do lé ko
Diana has stopped dancing for now
Nani bali fini sou djonko
But the dance and the music continue
Ow oh ana marié yoma - Ana marié yoma
Ana has returned after being gone a long time
Ow oh Boss ana voyagé i sagola
Oh Boss, Ana has traveled to Sagola
Ana ana voyagé i yonfè
Ana has traveled to Yonfe
Diana mô na mi fo lassa - Ah kogniokofo na ra
Diana may have left, but we continue to dance and have fun
Ah yaribi na kouma kan ka
And we do it all with love and joy
Néni yarabi koumana
All beloved ones should come and join us
Oh Barika barika bé douaou lé ko
Barika is clapping and dancing with us
Douaou dé na ki fo lassa
Everyone is having fun and enjoying themselves
Ah kogniokofo na ra
We all dance together and have fun
Ow Barika barika bé douaou lé fè
Barika is clapping and dancing with us
Ah neni yarabi be kouma ka kan
All beloved ones must come and join us
Mi gniogné – bê diana mô
We will dance all day and night
Mi gniogné – Allah non nê
We will dance and sing for the glory of Allah
Diaraby ko le dianakô te sa
The sound of the drums fills the air
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Salif Keita
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@solomoneconde6447
Je n’ai jamais aimé une personne comme je t’aime toi Papa Salif ❤️. Sa me rends vraiment heureux en écoutant t’es chansons car tu fais la fierté des l’empires noirs. Qu’Allah te donne longue vie 🙏☝🏻❤️
@alyndiaye7400
Le géant Salif je ne comprends pas le bambara mais j ai grandi avec sa voix. Même en Norvège on connaît le géant Salif. Ta musique me touche au cœur. Fière de toi tu es l ambassadeur de tout un continent.
Longue vie.
@fabricedubois3755
Ce n'est pas en Bambara mais en Maninka ❤😂
@younoussasylla443
Salif Keita demeure et reste toujours comme une référence de la musique mandingue
@amadousambthiam7985
Je suis sénégalais mais l'amour que je porte sur tonton Salif est sans limite sa musique me console à chaque fois longue vie
@bashermajdi6311
Y pas je suis sénégalais on est tous ensemble
@hammadoundao4251
Walahi Amadou Samba t'a raison sa musique console bcoup de personne no seulement j entend pas les mots mai j'aime salif keita
@moussakouyatellikw9opii08k6
@@hammadoundao4251 677qk hgkf
@tounkaraaichatou9729
J'tfrrggf🇲🇱🇲🇱🇲🇱🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪
@tounkaraaichatou9729
@@hammadoundao4251 gdddDww😘😍🇧🇪