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.
Madan
Salif Keita 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 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!
The song "Madan" by Salif Keita is sung in the Malian language, Bambara. The repetitive verses of the song use the words "O laka lamma le" and "Se jolaka lamma le" to create a hypnotic rhythm. The lyrics of the song are quite simple but carry a deep message. The lines "Ay ihe geba geta singurna yeah" and "Ilina ina nara sa" roughly translate to "The world is a big place, and we all come from different backgrounds." This is a beautiful sentiment, as the song seeks to unite people regardless of where they come from.
The chorus of the song, "Ori tali ma je'ye" is a phrase that Keita's mother used to say to him. It roughly translates to "my son, don't worry, everything will be alright." The song seeks to reassure listeners that there is hope, no matter how difficult their situation may be. The lines "A sid la nemma ra do m'sebbe toggorro no yee" and "Tama yoo pabba yo" can be interpreted to mean that even when people face difficult times, they can find solace in their traditions and beliefs.
Line by Line Meaning
O laka lamma le
Repeating a phrase that means 'I won't give up'
O laka lamma le dja
Adding 'dja' meaning 'never ever' to emphasize the refusal to give up
Se jolaka lamma le
Repeating the same phrase in a different dialect of the Mandingue language
Se jolaka lamma le dja
Repeating the same dialect phrase but with the emphasis of never ever giving up
Ay ihe geba geta singurna yeah
Acknowledging the difficulties and hardships of life and vowing to keep going
Ilina in a nara sa
Never giving up
Ili la serna najih neja
Striving to be the best and never giving up
A sid la nemma ra do m'sebbe toggorro no yee
Living life to the fullest and not holding back
Tama yoo pabba yo
Finding joy and happiness in life
A sid la nemma ra do m'sebbe toggorro no yee m'o
Repeating the idea of seizing every moment in life
Tama yoo o' pabba ho fago pib'ee
Enjoying the simple things in life
Ori tali ma je'ye
Celebrating and rejoicing in life
Lyrics © DELABEL EDITIONS
Written by: Manfila Kante, Salif Keita
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sida_risa
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
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!
I'm another one who's been looking for this song (now, even more amazing) for more than 10 years, and after getting to know the lyrics I can only put it to the comparison level and (exquisite) complexity of the song "Aserejé", by "Las Ketchup".
I'm hoping you can all enjoy it a lot more from now on, just like me, learning it and singing such an amazing piece of art :)
@amalangelraj
I searched this song for 15 years, knowing only the music notes but not the language! Am very happy today!
@tolkynkalimbek5253
I searched it for too long as well!! There’s no limit to my happiness 😭😭😭❤️ the music of our life!
@btl-ln5kl
I Found it again thanks to fifa 23 ahahah
@mariacatavel1080
same here!!!!
@amalangelraj
@@mariacatavel1080 I got the remix version too
@jasonlederhose9943
Ahhhh finally !!! 🎉 I think it’s been at least 15 years been searching for soooo long. Never knew the artist or name.
@lynnnkosi2398
Into 2024, and this classic is still fresh,❤❤❤❤❤😊 Sir Salif a God in music 🎶 🎵 🙌🏽 ❤ perfect kereke kereke🎉
@raytor5920
Who is still listening to one of the greatest Artists of all time in Africa 2020?
@thecanwe1636
🇩🇩🇿🇿🇩🇿💪♥🇵🇸♥
@yerdaulettolenov6374
Great track!!! From KAZAKHSTAN 🇰🇿 with Love!!!!