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 album, M'Bemba, was released in October 2005.
Chérie S'En Va
Salif Keita Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mbi fè chérie né bi fè han kanu ne bi lé fè n'ni ka Mogo kan bai sogoma o
Chérie s'en va...
Sunguru gnuma maina i ya kai à nana à fah bolo, dőn do hali ni fa ka diamant le di ma i ye wa la i tchè le fai ko laban tô do tchien de ma
Chérie s'en va...
Sunguru gnuman maina ya kai à fah bolo
dőn do hali fah ka diamant le d'i ma i tchè so la ko laban tø dö tugna de ma
Chérie s'en va (3fois) +2
Wolo fah bèrè lu ka yafa Mah ko lu musso Wa tø. Koro ni dogo lu ka yafa Mah.
Aaah musso Wa tő (3fois) le
Darling O papa I leave you
papa you know how I am, every one know the pain women know Il'l make you proud papa. Papa Its true I love you think of all happy this. Remenber of the way you smiled... want you smile like this for me papa. You told me ones night if is long the promise May this day... don't u want a daugther who's strong? take careful of people some day... Bai bi la duniya tigai ro
Bai bi la demiseni ya ro ni mèna o de ro
Bai bi la mana mana la bai be gna gna
ko laban to tugna de ma n'dia n'a Mogo ko laban tchè la sigui te sa féou...
The lyrics of Salif Keita's song 'Chérie S'En Va' are in multiple languages, including French, Bambara, and English. The song is about a woman leaving her father and her lover to pursue her own ambitions. The first verse talks about how the woman (Chérie) is leaving and how her lover (Mbi) is sad that she's going. He says that he wants to go with her but he knows that he can't. The second verse talks about how Sunguru Gnuma Maina is calling Chérie and how the people around her are trying to convince her to stay. However, she knows that she has to leave to pursue her dreams.
The third verse is in English and it talks about the conversation that Chérie has with her father before leaving. She tells him that she loves him and that she'll make him proud. She also reminds him of the happy times they had together and asks him to remember to smile like he used to. She then asks him if he wants a strong daughter and reminds him to be careful of people. The final verse is in Bambara and talks about how Chérie is leaving to travel the world and discover new things. Mbi and her father are sad to see her go, but they know that she has to follow her dreams.
Overall, the song is a bittersweet reflection on the importance of pursuing one's dreams, while also acknowledging the pain and sadness that comes with leaving loved ones behind.
Line by Line Meaning
Mbi fè chérie ne bi fè n'dia na mogo ne bi fè n'dia n'a mogo m'bi fai aaah kanu m'bi le fè. n'ni ka mogo kan bai sogoma oh .
I love you darling, I love you so much, my heart is burning with passion. Let's go meet Mogo in Sogoma.
Chérie s'en va...
Darling is leaving...
Sunguru gnuma maina i ya kai à nana à fah bolo, dőn do hali ni fa ka diamant le di ma i ye wa la i tchè le fai ko laban tô do tchien de ma
In the middle of the river, there is a big rock, if you can break it, you will find a diamond. But beware of the strong current.
Ndia n'a mogo Wa to kanbai sogoma O +2 Wolo n'a bèrè lu ka yafa ma ko lu musso Wa tø
The people in Sogoma are buying and selling. The boys are telling the girls sweet words. Oh, how sweet it is.
Wolo fah bèrè lu ka yafa Mah ko lu musso Wa tø. Koro ni dogo lu ka yafa Mah. Aaah musso Wa tő (3fois) le
The boys are telling the girls sweet words. Even the little ones are in love. Oh, how sweet it is.
Darling O papa I leave you papa you know how I am, every one know the pain women know Il'l make you proud papa.
Darling is leaving father. You know my character, everyone knows it. Women know the pain, but I'll make you proud, father.
Papa Its true I love you think of all happy this. Remenber of the way you smiled... want you smile like this for me papa.
Father, it's true, I love you. Think of all the happy times. Remember the way you smiled. I want you to smile like that for me, father.
You told me ones night if is long the promise May this day... don't u want a daugther who's strong? take careful of people some day... Bai bi la duniya tigai ro
One night, you told me that promises are for the long haul. Don't you want a strong daughter? Be careful of people someday. Let's go and conquer the world together.
Bai bi la demiseni ya ro ni mèna o de ro
Let's go and make our dreams come true.
Bai bi la mana mana la bai be gna gna ko laban to tugna de ma n'dia n'a Mogo ko laban tchè la sigui te sa féou...
Let's go and dance, dance until we are tired. Let's not forget Mogo in Sogoma, let's not forget our tradition.
Contributed by Hudson O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@idrisskoulibaly6395
Le meilleur ambassadeur de la musique africaine. Cette musique parle à tout le monde. Que d'émotions.
@aminatacoulibaly9802
Cette chanson me rappelle à point il est beau d aimer
Le mariage est l 'un des choses la plus précieuse
Un jour une fille quittera tout pour l'homme avec qui fondera sa famille avec ses propres principes et règles
@fatoumatakanoute6485
🥰🥰🙏😌🫶
@mhsouare8342
Mon frere cette chanson me touche vraiment, ça me fait pensé a ma famme cherie.
@mouprema8684
Que Dieu garde salif Keita longtemps avec nous
@ndongothiam339
Amine
@Papisco88
Indescriptible l’Émotion qu'on ressent en écoutant la Musique de tonton Salif Keita du Grand Art tout simplement !!!!!
@safiatoufouillen7090
Longue vie à toi Salif national et international In Sha'Allah c'est la chanson qui accompagnera ma fille le jour qu'elle partira chez son mari 🙏🙏🙏🙏 👌👌👌😍😍😍
@Broke.NoMore
j adore cette musique!
Longue vie a Salif Keita.
:-) :-) :-)
@djenebounieredembele445
depuis tte petite je l'écoute et il est le meilleur je t'aime tonton Salif 💕💕💕💕