Salif Keita - So Kono [LP]

Cat. no: NOF66LP
Format: LP
Barcode: 3700551786169
Release Date: 11 Apr 2025
Genre: World Music

The legendary singer Salif Keita makes a grand return with So Kono, an acoustic and deeply intimate album

Salif Keita, "the golden voice of Africa," reveals himself for the frst time in a stripped-down acoustic format, reconnecting with his roots and his guitar, his long- time companion instrument.

The idea of an acoustic album had long been dismissed by the artist himself. "I'm not a guitarist; I use the guitar to compose," he used to say, reluctant to expose this level of vulnerability. However, in 2023, during the Kyotophonie Festival in Japan, organized by photographer Lucille Reyboz and encouraged by producer Laurent Bizot (No Format!), something changed. Surrounded by the spirituality of a Zen temple and supported by his loyal musicians - Badie Tounkara on ngoni and Mamadou Kone on percussion - Salif agreed to bare himself like never before. The title So Kono, meaning "in the room" in Mandinka, refects both the simplicity and depth of this album.

Recorded in the intimacy of his hotel room, So Kono captures the very essence of Salif Keita: a powerful voice, shaped by trials and travels, elevated by minimalist arrangements. Blending reimagined classics and new compositions, this album resonates as a sincere and timeless work, reafrming why Salif Keita is considered one of the greatest living singers, across all cultures and continents.

LP Tracks: Aboubakrin / Awa / Tassi / Kante Manfla / Cherie / Soundiata / Laban / Tu Vas me Manquer / Proud