Salif Keita, the renowned musician, last weekend proved why he is referred to as "Africa's most celebrated music artist" with his two live concerts at the National Theatre and the Banquet Hall in Accra. The singer from Mali, Ghana's ECOWAS neighbor, put up outstanding performances that would no doubt leave a lasting impression on the minds of the people who were privileged to watch the maestro's first concert in Ghana, which he himself described as his "best day".
Backed by his 14 piece band, Salif Keita performed some of his greatest hits with an exhibition of excellent creative and performing skills that left most of the fans at the fully packed National Theatre, including diplomats and other important personalities, dancing and applauding with great excitement that lasted throughout the show.
Such was the level of excitement that, most of them refused to leave the auditorium of the theatre after Salif had been whisked away by the organizers to force the show to an end long after midnight. In unison, the fans shouted, "we want more, we want more" and "Salif come back". The Malian Ambassador, and the Head of the European Union Delegation to Ghana, at a point during the concert, joined the musician on stage to show their admiration for his performance.
Salif, who sang mostly in his native, Bambara language, sported a white small hat and dressed in a cream-colored short sleeved shirt with brown stripes and a pair of cream colored trousers and brown shining pair of shoes to match. He opened his performance with two of his slow tracks, "Folon" and "Soro" that were emotionally aimed at setting the minds of the highly expectant audience at ease. Other hit songs like "Tekere", "Mofou" and the all time favorite, "Africa" almost blew the roof off the theatre away and sent some excited fans dancing on stage.
He also performed at the first gala night of the Ghana France Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, (GFCCAI) held at the Banquet Hall on Saturday. Salif once again won the hearts of the guests including President Kufuor and his wife, Madam Theresa Kufuor who were joined by ministers of state and other distinguished personalities to dance the night away.
The two local artistes who performed with Salif, Amandziba Nat Brew and Buk Bak, only succeeded in exposing how the nation has allowed the creative talent of musicians to be drained away by the use of electronic devices, computer applications as well as western influence that have seriously affected the original rhythm of highlife music that once put Ghana on the world's music map.
Contrary to this, Salif has managed to earn himself the respect of the world's music followers as a master of western African rhythms and credited as one of the founders of the Afro-pop genre. He is world renowned for his unforgettable live performances, soaring vocals and his emotionally-fueled songs.
