2024-04-07 00:55:37
For this 13th edition, saxophonist Steve Coleman, the Ghanaians from Santrofi and the Afro Cuban Jazz project took the stage. Another big name from Africa was on stage: the Malian Salif Keita, much criticized by some for his support for the junta in Bamako, played for the first time in his career in Cape Verde.
Published on: 07/04/2024 – 02:55
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With our special correspondent in Praia, Guillaume Thibault
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.
Special advisor to the president of the transition, Colonel Assimi Goïta, since August 2023, Salif Keita has therefore not mentioned the situation in Mali but on the other hand greeted the new president of Senegal Bassirou Diomaye – The Best Of Bassirou Diomaye 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.
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