Salif Keita

Malian musician Salif Keita had an uphill battle on his way to become the country's most renowned singer/songwriter. A direct descendent of Mali's royal family, he was forbidden by custom to become a musician, but he boldly cast aside tradition. A vision-impaired albino, he also had to contend with his culture's superstitions about albino Africans. Nonetheless, in the '60s he began a career that moved through the pioneering Rail Band, through work with the jazz/funk-influenced Les Ambassadeurs, finally emerging as a formidable solo artist in the '80s. His pan-ethnic style incorporates R&B, rock, and jazz along with traditional Malian sounds, and his is a familiar name in the world music Grammy category.

• Ali Farka Toure
• Kandia Kouyate/Mah Damba/Sali Sidibe/Oumou Sangare
• Kante Manfila
• Mah Damba
• Mory Kante
• Oumou Sangare
• Papa Wemba
• Ray Lema
• Rokia Traore
• S.E. Rogie
• Sali Sadibe
• Tabu Ley Rochereau
• Toumani Diabate
• Toure Kunda
• Youssou N'Dour

• Aretha Franklin
• Bembeya Jazz
• Joe Zawinul
• Lamine Konte Ensemble
• Machito
• Manu Dibango
• Ray Charles/Cleo Laine
• Stevie Wonder
• Super Rail Band
• Tina Turner

• Afel Bocoum
• Ballake Sissoko
• Habib Koite & Bamada
• Issa Bagayogo
• Jali Musa Jawara
• Lobi Traore
• Mali Music
• Momo Wandel Soumah
• Nahawa Doumbia
• Peter Gabriel
• Roswell Rudd/Steve Lacy
• Seckou Keita
• Sekouba Bambino
• Tama
• Ye Lassina Coulibaly/Yan Faso

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