Track Listing

1. Bobo
2. Laban
3. Calculer
4. Dery
5. Ladji - Buju Banton, Salif Keita
6. Kamoukié
7. Yambo
8. Tu Vas Me Manquer
9. M'Bemba
10. Moriba

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #31865 in Music
• Released on: 2005-10-10
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 61 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
From his native Mali to the Ivory Coast, France, and then America, Salif Keita has taken his distinctive musical vision around the world and back again. Though he dabbled in some dubious jazz-fusion experiments along the way, he returned to his African roots – and his previous form - on 2002’s Moffou, at the same time returning to live in his homeland. On M’Bemba (Ancestor) he goes even deeper into his roots, exploring the world of Malian voice and song in his own inimitable way. Teaming up again with old friends and associates like Kanté Manfila and Ousmane Kouyaté (guitar), Toumani Diabaté (kora), Mama Sissoko (ngoni lute) and percussionist Mino Cinellu, the album was recorded in his new Mali studio. Displaying a confident, upbeat sound, M’Bemba retains strong links to the acoustic world of its predecessor; while it couldn’t be described as a groundbreaking project, it is an intelligent and rootsy vision that comes across as compelling and authentic. --Paul Sullivan

Customer Reviews

Beautiful, Textured, compelling music
I saw Salif Keita at the barbican as part of the London Jazz festival very recently and had bought his album before. I can't really describe how great this album is, you just have to hear it. The West-African superstar's unique style blends all kinds of music - his native Mali, Jazz, Funk and even rock. He has probably the finest male voice in Africa. All the tracks are rich in percussion and masterful guitar playing as well as gorgeus singing. This latest album is a well-crafted masterpiece from one of musics true greats. Highly Recommended.

Salif Keita's Latest Gift Of Malian Folk
Keita has belonged, and he has for quite a long time, to a select worldwide list of singers/songwriters whose influence in music has been profound and the quality of their output sheer beauty. And M'Bemba is ample proof that the source of his rich musical wealth is far from dry.

M'Bemba follows on the footsteps of his prior gem, Moffou, although M'Bemba is more joyous and capable of making the stiffest body dance with abandon.

Like Moffou, it is a set of traditionally conceived songs soaked in his Malian heritage, and maintaining and adding to form a tremendous core of musicians -Kante Manfila, Ousmane Kouyaté and Djelly Moussa Kouyaté along with Toumani Diabaté on kora, the great percussionist Mino Cinelu.

So the man so aptly called the "Golden Voice of Mali," proves this title fitting and shines throughout every one of these track, as he continues his inner journey home. Whether it is the tender "Bobo," the sensual cadence of "Laban, the hip-shaking grooves of "Calculer" and "Kamoukie," or the haunting beauty of the title track "M'Bemba."

Go and discover M'Bemba as soon as you can, and grab one of the market sellers' reasonably priced copies before they disappear, and you're facing the ungodly full price requested for an import copy. <

jajeuf
This is another gem from one of the few artists out of Africa whose voice embodies the suffering and thankfully the hope of a continent. The backing vocals are as fresh as in Soro and Keita's voice in Dery and Laban led by one if not the best guitarist of his generation and an old accomplice of Salif is as powerful as in Mandjou. The drums and vocals in Calculer are mesmerising. Keita invites us to look back at the great history of Africa. Don't wait!