Salif Keïta (b. 25 Aug 1949), is an internationally recognized afro-pop sin… Read Full Bio ↴Salif Keïta (b. 25 Aug 1949), is an internationally recognized afro-pop singer-songwriter from Djoliba, Mali. He has a reputation as the 'Golden Voice of Africa', he is also an albino & a descendant of the Mali Empire's founder, Sundiata Keita.

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).

Tu Vas Me Manquer
Salif Keïta Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Why kana la oh la
Why kana la oh la
Tu m'as manquer mon amour (x2)
Ne ni cherie willila kan be tama yala
En sera Ouagadougou
Sou kora
An dou bora
Kan be ta sen na yala

An sera yen
Don ke yoro la
An sera yen
Do ye kanou ye
Ka yaraba ba la
Ne ko kanou ma
I kana son
Why kana la la
Why kana la oh la
Why kana la oh la
Why kana da mola
Why kana da be mogo la
Ne ni kanou willila kan be tama
En sera Senegal
En sera Dakar
Ba da la
Dans la capitale
Do ye kanou ye
A le ba tigui
Do ko kanou ma
En be dab ala
Doumin nouman be da la
Ne ko kanou ma
E kana son
Why kana la la
Why kana la oh la
Why kana la oh la
Why kana da mola
Why kana da be mogo la
Ne ni kanou willila
En sera Franci
En sera Paris
Ba da la
Dans la metropole
Do ye kanou ye
Nafola ba tigui
Do ko kanou ma
Be son wari la
Be son sanu la
Ne ko kanou ma
Why kana la oh la
Why kana la oh la
Why kana la oh la
Why kana da mola
Why kana da be mogo la
Tu m'as manquer mon amour

Don't believe in that
Don't believe in that
I missed you my love (x2)
Me and love got up to go travel
We got to Ouagadougou
The sun went down
So we went out
So we could take a walk
We got there
To the nightclub
We got there
Someone saw my love
And fell for her
I told my love
Don't accept
Don't believe it
Don't believe that
Don't believe that
Don't believe people today
Don't believe what they say
Me and my love got up to travel
We got to Senegal
We got to Dakar
In front of the ocean
In the capital
Someone saw my love
Someone with power
Someone told my love
Let's go to near the water
There's good food to eat there
I told my love
Don't accept it
Don't believe what they say
Don't fall for that
Don't fall for that

Don't fall for those people
Don't fall for that kind of person

Overall Meaning

The song Tu Vas Me Manquer by Salif Keita was released in 1995 as a tribute to his friend and musician, Amadou Ba Guindo, who had passed away. The song is in French and the Bambara language, which is spoken in Mali, and features a fusion of African and Latin music genres. The lyrics express the singer's deep longing for a lover who is far away, and also reflect the cultural tensions between modernity and tradition in Mali.

The opening lines of the song, "Why kana la oh la," suggest a sense of confusion or uncertainty. This is followed by the repeated refrain "tu m'as manquer mon amour," which means "I missed you my love," conveying the singer's emotional pain and yearning. The verses tell a story of the singer and his love traveling to different cities, where they encounter various temptations and distractions. However, the singer warns his love not to be swayed by these distractions and to remain faithful to him.

The song is notable for its blend of African and Latin music styles, with elements of salsa, jazz, and pop music. The use of traditional African instruments, such as the kora and balafon, creates a distinctive sound that is both modern and rooted in history. The song was a commercial success in Mali and other French-speaking countries, and helped to establish Salif Keita as one of Mali's most popular musicians.

Line by Line Meaning

Why kana la oh la
Don't believe in that

Tu m'as manquer mon amour (x2)
I missed you my love (x2)

Ne ni cherie willila kan be tama yala
Me and love got up to go travel

En sera Ouagadougou
We got to Ouagadougou

Sou kora
The sun went down

An dou bora
So we went out

Kan be ta sen na yala
So we could take a walk

An sera yen
We got there

Don ke yoro la
To the nightclub

An sera yen
We got there

Do ye kanou ye
Someone saw my love