The story of Malian singer Salif Keita is one of great willpower. As a young man he was rejected by his family when he chose a career in music. Fortunately, his decision turned out to be a good one: Keita became one of the greatest stars on the African continent. After many wanderings that took him to Ivory Coast and France, Keita settled in his native Mali for the first time in a long time to make
… his new album, where he set up his own studio. The advantages were obvious: no more hassle with visas, strange food and impersonal hotels. The relaxed atmosphere that Keita experienced during the recording of M'Bemba is clearly reflected in the ten acoustic songs, in which he receives assistance from people like , and . There is no trace of the hustle and bustle of the city, but the quiet heartbeat of the African countryside. And so the circle seems complete again: in an interview with French radio Keita stated that he did not want to live out his old age as a musician but as a farmer, as his parents once wanted. (MS)more