M'Bemba

Album Review

The Grammy-nominated West African artist Salif Keita, whose voice The Washington Post once declared as "one other mortals can only aspire to," returned after many years to Bamako, Mali, to record M'Bemba, a remarkable, multifaceted collection that beautifully blends native choirs (comprised of his foster sisters), rolling hypnotic guitars, happily dancing percussion, and such indigenous instruments as ngoni lute and kora. These evoke the memory of Keita's ancestor, Sundiata Keita, the warrior king who founded the Mandingo Empire in the 13th century. Over the course of an hour, Keita — whose globally successful 35-year career has somewhat offset the hardships he's faced in his homeland being an albino and a musician — weaves a true tapestry of all of his favorite global influences. These include rock, soul, French chanson, and Afro-Cuban rhythms, all stirred up around his deep, guttural vocals; echoing chants; the seductive, jangling guitars; and a variety of earthy grooves. On the gentler reflections, like the opening "Bobo" and the sweet, anthemic title track (enhanced by the female chorus), there's a hauntingly beautiful sense of history mixed with struggle and, ultimately, optimism. While the album will mostly be enjoyed by fans of real-deal African music, newcomers will hopefully be inspired to begin mining Keita's rich history as both a musician and a survivor. [This edition features a bonus remix of "Calculer."]