Salif Keïta performs with Ghanaian band Santrofi, saxophonist Steve Coleman, Afro Cuban Jazz at the Kriol Jazz Festival in Praia

Producer of Cesaria Evora, José Da Silva created the Kriol Jazz Festival in Praia, the capital. A renowned event where big names in jazz and world music have performed.

As a political actor, it was during a press conference in a large hotel that Salif Keita spoke. And indicated that he did not wish to discuss political issues.

“I want to say that I don’t like talking about African politics so much because people don’t know what’s going on in Africa. And when you speak, it hits you in the face. I’d rather not talk about it,” he said.

CHECK ALSO: Salif Keïta,  saxophonist Steve Coleman, Santrofi, Afro Cuban Jazz performs at Cape Verde

Special advisor to the president of the transition, Colonel Assimi Goïta, since August 2023, Salif Keita therefore did not mention the situation in Mali but on the other hand greeted the new president of Senegal Bassirou Diomaye Faye and his Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko: “ They are two very intelligent young people on whom I rely a lot to change things in Africa. »

For his first concert in Cape Verde, Salif Keita mentioned Cesaria Evora because he recorded the song Yamoré with the diva in 2002. At 74, the Malian singer, who had to cancel a concert in Abidjan last November, believes that music and art have a role to play: “music is medicine: it heals, it makes you forget. It’s like oxygen. Fortunately, it exists. »

Surrounded by eleven exceptional young musicians, his concert will go down in the annals of the Kriol Jazz Festival.