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Salif Keita: So Kono review – the Golden Voice still has it

The Malian singer-songwriter’s pared-back new album showcases his older-sounding, still amazingly nimble voice

Since the release of his international breakthrough Soro in 1987, the Malian singer-songwriter Salif Keita, possessed of a sweetly soulful tone, has been affectionately known as the “Golden Voice of Africa”. His genre-spanning work has featured collaborations with psychedelic guitarist Santana, jazz saxophonist Wayne Shorter and Jamaican singer Buju Banton. Kanté Manfila finds Keita veering from gravelly whispers to yearning yelps, while highlight Proud showcases his incredibly nimble delivery, weaving through the string melody to reach a soaring climax and proving that the Golden Voice is still full of power.

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