Salif Keita (b. 25 August 1949), is an internationally recognized afro-pop … Read Full Bio ↴Salif Keita (b. 25 August 1949), is an internationally recognized afro-pop singer and songwriter from Djoliba, Mali. He has a reputation as the "Golden Voice of Africa", he is also 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 album, M'Bemba, was released in October 2005.

N B'i Fe
Salif Keita Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Je t'aime
N'Bife
I love You
Je t'aime
N'Bife
I love You
Jai pris mon habit pour me rendre chez ma cherie

Jai pris mon habit pour me rendre chez ma cherie

J'ai démandé aux, ils m'ont repondu que

La raison est simple

Je n'aime pas la guerre

Je t'aime
N'Bife
I love You
Je t'aime
N'Bife
I love You

N'Toma prends ta chaussure
N'toma prends ton baya

Rien ne vaut la noblesse

Overall Meaning

In Salif Keita's song N B'i Fe, the singer is declaring his love for someone. He repeats "Je t'aime, N'Bife" which translates to "I love you, N'Bife" in the song's chorus. He says he took his clothes and went to visit his love interest. When he asked for the reason why he was doing so, he was told that it was because he did not like war. The song ends with the singer telling N'Toma to take his shoes and baya (a West African musical instrument) and that nothing is more valuable than nobility.

The lyrics of N B'i Fe are simple yet powerful. The singer is using his love for someone to express a message of peace. He is saying that love and peace are more important than anything else. The song is about choosing love over war and conflict. It is a beautiful love song with a message that is relevant to everyone.

Line by Line Meaning

Je t'aime
I love you

N'Bife

Je t'aime
I love you

N'Bife

J'ai pris mon habit pour me rendre chez ma cherie
I put on my clothes to go see my lover

J'ai démandé aux, ils m'ont repondu que
I asked others and they replied that

La raison est simple
The reason is simple

Je n'aime pas la guerre
I do not like war

Je t'aime
I love you

N'Bife

Je t'aime
I love you