A 2025 LP released on No Format, featuring nine tracks of African folk and world music with total runtime around 43 minutes.
Artist page · 04/07/2026
Salif Keita
About
Salif Keita, Malian voice blending traditional roots with modern world sounds.
Five vinyl releases including the 2025 LP So Kono; prices range from €9 to €20 on original pressings.
Descended from the founder of the Mali Empire, Salif Keita emerged from Koulikoro and has established a long career in world music and African folk. His discography spans from traditional Malinké songs to innovative blends incorporating electronic elements, released mainly on vinyl and CD formats.
Keita's work includes collaborations and albums produced in Mali, Abidjan, and Europe, highlighting themes of cultural identity, social struggle, and personal heritage. His vinyl releases track prices ranging from €9.28 for recent original French pressings to about €15 for European reissues, attracting avid collectors of world music on vinyl.
Discography
Salif Keita — Discography
Studio albums, EPs and notable live records, from newest to oldest. Drag the timeline to browse.
No Format · 2025
Naïve · 2018
Universal Music France · 2012
Universal Music France · 2009
Cantos · 2005
Universal Music Jazz France · 2005
Sono Africa · 2000
Metro Blue · 1999
MS Verdenshjørnet · 1997
Mango · 1995
Mango · 1993
S.O.S. Albinos · 1993
Mango · 1991
Mango · 1989
Syllart Records · 1988
Celluloid · 1981
Universal Music Jazz France · Playlist
Signature tracks
The tracks that sum up Salif Keita's career.





The essentials
The 3 Salif Keita albums you absolutely need
Our pick, validated by the editorial team.
Reissued in 2022 by Universal Music, Moffou is a world music LP with ten tracks including 'Yamore' and 'Madan'.
Anthology, a compilation released in 2024 on DECCA, provides a broad overview of Salif Keita's musical journey.
Go further
Artists similar to Salif Keita
Artists who share part of Salif Keita's musical DNA.
Collectors
For vinyl die-hards
The hidden side of the catalogue: rare pressings, sought-after matrices, Discogs values.
Market values (source: Discogs)
For each reference edition, these cards summarise the state of the global Discogs market. Market position places the average price of a copy between the observed min and max prices. Average price is the price seen for a mint-condition copy. Copies available counts listings currently for sale. Collectors who want it is the number of Discogs users who added it to their wantlist without owning it — a good signal of upcoming demand.
Notable pressings & editions
Face B
Side B: the hidden stories of Salif Keita
Studio secrets, touring anecdotes and B-sides worth the whole album.
Traditionally, music was reserved for griots, not princes like me. Choosing this path created a scandal in my family.— Salif Keita
Born albino from Malian royalty in 1949
Salif Keita was born albino in 1949 in Djoliba, Mali, descending directly from the founder of the Mali Empire, Sundjata Keïta. His albino condition and royal lineage set a unique personal and cultural context for his music career.
Early band involvement in Mali and Ivory Coast
Keita started his career in Bamako in 1968, joining the Rail Band led by Tidiani Koné. In 1973, he moved to Abidjan playing with the Ambassadeurs, marking the start of his professional recording career.
Soro (1986) marks shift to blues-rock and increased international exposure
In 1986, Salif Keita recorded Soro, an album blending blues-rock with Malinké vocals, recorded while based in Abidjan. This album helped introduce him to the Francofolies festival and audiences in France and beyond.
Folon (1995) dedicated to albino children
The 1995 album Folon was dedicated to albino children, supporting a cause close to Keita who himself is albino. This album reflects his social activism alongside his musical career.
Records by Salif Keita
See allCDs by Salif Keita
Search all Salif Keita CDsFAQ
FAQ: Salif Keita on physical formats
The most common questions about pressings, reissues and limited editions.
When was Salif Keita born and where?
Salif Keita was born on August 25, 1949, in Djoliba, Mali.
What are some key vinyl albums by Salif Keita available today?
Key vinyl albums include So Kono (2025), Moffou (2022 reissue), and Anthology (2024 compilation).
What genres does Salif Keita's music cover?
His music blends African traditional roots, world music, and elements of electronic music.
Which Salif Keita album contains the hit song 'Yamore'?
The song 'Yamore' appears on the album Moffou.
What is the price range for Salif Keita vinyl records on the market?
Original vinyl pressings range approximately from €9 for 'So Kono' to €15 for 'Moffou' reissues.
Are there notable Salif Keita vinyl pressings released in France?
The 'So Kono' LP was originally pressed in France under the label No Format, catalog NØF.66 LP.
Where did Salif Keita start his professional music career?
He began in Bamako with the Rail Band and later moved to Abidjan to perform with the Ambassadeurs.
How does Salif Keita's music reflect his personal history?
His work reflects his royal heritage, albino identity, and social issues faced by immigrants and marginalized groups.
Transparency
Sources & method
This page is compiled by the vinyles.com editorial team from public sources and our marketplace.
Our method
- Discographic data from MusicBrainz (dates, countries, activity period).
- Tracklists, artwork and genres retrieved via Discogs Masters.
- Values (low / median / high) and stock from the Discogs Marketplace.
- Audience and similar artists via Last.fm.
- Page updated automatically and reviewed by the editorial team.
