On February 15, 1999, Seattle Center Cultural Events and Festival Sundiata welcomed the famed African musical luminary Salif Keita to Seattle Center for a special concert performance at the Charlotte Martin Theatre.

Salif Keita is justly famed for the rare beauty of his voice. His singing, rooted in the traditions of Mali, recalls the sounds of the Middle East in the same moment as it suggests the roots of the blues.
    Salif Keita is an albino, and faced discrimination from birth. As a member of a noble family which traces its descent to the legendary king Sundiata of the Mali Empire, Salif’s decision to pursue a career as a musician, a career considered low class by members of the nobility, only added to the disgrace. It is a true tribute to Salif’s talent that he achieved fame in his native Mali, first with the national Super Rail Band in the 1970s, and later with Les Ambassadeurs.
    In the Super Rail Band and in Les Ambassadeurs, Salif performed a mix of the traditional musics of Mali, with Latin musics, and jazz. Salif has continued to develop melding of musics in his solo career. In 1987, he released the landmark album Soro, which received international attention. Salif has continued to record and refine his musical vision and has continued to utilize elements of jazz and funk in his music.
    Salif s most widely acclaimed album of the 90s is Folon… The Past. It’s a Pan-African celebration of the music of the continent containing songs which express the influence of many regional and international styles. The first track "Tekere" is a unique dance track that sounds like modal zouk with heavy bass. Another song "Dakan-Fe" lilts along on a reggae groove, "Sumun" is reminiscent of the Afro-Beat music of Fela, and another track "Mandela," is dedicated to the famous South African leader and features Salif singing in Zulu. Finally, the record contains a new version of the classic song "Mandjou" which is here treated as a deep jazz dub exploration.
    In many ways Folon…The Past is Salif Keita’s best recording to date, but even so it cannot do justice to the live power of Salif’s eleven piece band. In performance, short songs stretch out in spontaneous jams that blend the musics of Mali with jazz and funk, and compel audiences to dance.
    It is always a pleasure to have the opportunity to see a great artist perform. It is a special pleasure to present Salif Keita at Festival Sundiata, because he exemplifies the spirit of the festival. He is not only a descendant of the ancient king of Mali for which the festival is named, but he is also a modern day griot whose music reminds people of their history at the same time as it celebrates the future.