Salif Keita | World Music Central

Events

Salif Keita To Debut At Zanzibar’s 2026 Festival, Sauti Za Busara

Sauti za Busara will return for its 23rd edition in Stone Town, Zanzibar, from February 5–8, 2026. Organizers confirmed that Malian star Salif Keita, widely…

The album cover for Värttinä – Kyly features red geometric folk motifs arranged symmetrically on a dark, textured blue wood background. The band’s name and album title appear in red gothic lettering.

Charts

Värttinä Surges to the Summit of World Music Charts Europe for July 2025

World Music Central News Room July 1, 2025 No Comments accordion Ammar 808 Barbora Xu Brighde Chaimbeul Camille Saglio Danças Ocultas Elana Sasson Finland Finnish music Grecia Albán Groupa Hamid Drake jouhikko Jules Maxwell Kadialy Kouyaté kantele Karoliina Kantelinen Lassi Logrén Lina_Majid Bekkas Mandé Sila Mari Kaasinen Matthieu Saglio Matti Laitinen Mikko Hassinen Natalia Lafourcade Nguyên Lê Oktopus Rodrigo Leão Salif Keita Sofia Leao Susan Aho Urna Chahar-Tugchi Värttinä Votia world music

The album Kyly by Finnish folk stars Värttinä Secured the coveted top position of World Music Charts Europe for the month of July 2025. Kyly…

The album cover for So Kono by Salif Keita features the legendary Malian musician sitting barefoot on a white bed, dressed in a monochromatic yellow outfit with sunglasses and a matching headwrap. He holds an acoustic guitar. The background is a warmly lit, modern bedroom with geometric panels forming a house-like structure. A dynamic splash of gold paint extends from the left side. handwritten and minimal.

Album reviews

Keita Unplugged: A Room of His Own

Angel Romero March 22, 2025 No Comments Malian music Salif Keita world music

Salif Keita – So Kono (Nø Førmat, 2025) According to the producers of this album, Salif Keita’s life in Mali is anything but private. As…

Salif Keita sitting, leaning on a large boulder. Photo by Lucille Reyboz

Music videos

Salif Keita’s Soulful Serenade in ‘Chérie’”

World Music Central News Room March 8, 2025 No Comments Malian music Salif Keita world music

(headline image: Salif Keita – Photo by Lucille Reyboz) Malian music icon Salif Keita has released “Chérie,” a track from his upcoming album So Kono,…

Music videos

Salif Keita Unveils “Tassi” Video from Upcoming Album So Kono

World Music Central News Room February 23, 2025 No Comments Malian music Salif Keita world music

Malian music star Salif Keita has rolled out a music video of the song “Tassi” , which is featured in his forthcoming album So Kono.

The Paco de Lucía Legacy Festival 2024 poster

Events

The Paco de Lucía Legacy Festival Announces New York Dates

World Music Central News Room February 2, 2024 No Comments Al Di Meola Alain Pérez Antonio Rey Carles Benavent Carmen Linares Chano Domínguez Chonchi Heredia Diego El Cigala Duquende Farru Farruquito Flamenco Israel Suárez 'Piraña'J.M.Bandera Javier Colina Jorge Pardo José Mercé Josemi Carmona Karime Amaya Madou Diabaté Makarines Nesrine Belmokh Niño Josele Paco de Lucia Pepe Habichuela Rafael Riqueni Rubem Dantas Rubén Blades Salif Keita Sílvia Pérez Cruz Tino di Geraldo world fusion world music Yerai Cortés

New York City is set to honor the legendary guitarist Paco de Lucía through a major festival from February 20 to 24, 2024. This significant…

Awards General News

Transglobal World Music Hall of Fame Announces 2022 Inductees

World Music Central News Room December 9, 2022 No Comments Afghan National Institute of Music Ahmad Sarmast Ben Mandelson Danyèl Waro Debashish Bhattacharya Fela Kuti Ian Anderson Jivan Gasparyan Mariem Hassan Milton Nascimento Miriam Makeba Oumou Sangaré Paco de Lucia Salif Keita Transglobal World Music Hall of Fame world fusion world music

The Transglobal World Music Hall of Fame has revealed the names of the 2022 Inductees. Artist Salif KeitaDebashish BhattacharyaDanyèl WaroOumou SangaréMilton Nascimento The Artist category…

Interviews

Salif Keita is Africa’s White Knight

Tony Hillier April 19, 2020 No Comments African music Afropop Malian music Salif Keita

He is known around the globe as ‘The Golden Voice of Africa’ but as legendary singer Salif Keita winds down an illustrious trail-blazing music career…

Concert reviews

WOMADELAIDE 2020 Joy with an Inspired Range Of Music, Arts and Dance

Chris Lambie April 13, 2020 No Comments Catrin Finch Ifriqiyya Electrique Jorge Ben Jor Minyo Crusaders Rhiannon Giddens Rura Salif Keita Seckou Keita The Blind Boys of Alabama Trio Da Kali WOMADelaide world music

WOMADELAIDE 2020, Adelaide, South Australia – March 6-9 Back on the sunny long weekend in March, jokes about the early onset of ‘The Virus’ seemed…

Awards

Salif Keita to Receive La Mar de Musicas Award

World Music Central News Room July 21, 2019 No Comments Malian music Salif Keita

Malian world music star Salif Keita is the winner of La Mar de Musicas Award. La Mar de Musicas is a highly respected world music…