Salif Keita & Les Ambassadeurs Du Motel LP 1976 Kanté Manfila Kibaru Rare

$

60

Salif Keita & Les Ambassadeurs Du Motel LP 1976 Kanté Manfila Kibaru Very Rare.     Archival Sleeve Early Salif Keita with his shadow guitarist Kanté Manfila Keita soars as always.... recommend 
In 1967, he left Djoliba for Bamako, where he joined the government-sponsored Super Rail Band de Bamako. In 1973, Keita joined the group Les Ambassadeurs (du Motel de Bamako). Keita and Les Ambassadeurs fled political unrest in Mali during the mid-1970s and subsequently changed the group's name to Les Ambassadeurs Internationaux. The reputation of this band grew internationally in the late-1970s, leading to Keita pursuing a solo career in the following years.

Guinean musician (guitarist, vocalist, composer), born in 1947 Farabanah, Republic of Guinea (West Africa), died July 20, 2011 Paris, France. Most well known as the guitarist for Les Ambassadeurs Internationaux.
Not to be confused with Kante Manfila Dabadou, singer of the Guinean band Keletigui Et Ses Tambourinis.

In 1972 Kanté Manfila joined Les Ambassadeurs du Motel in Bamako (Mali) as lead guitarist and vocalist. That same year Malian singer Salif Keita (who had left the Rail Band de Bamako) also joined Les Ambassadeurs as lead vocalist. For many years, Manfila and Keita had a productive collaborative relationship.

After Salif Keita left the Orchestre Rail-Band du Bamako in 1972 he joined Les Ambassadeurs du Motel, along with Kanté Manfila (pictured, second from right). The group released several singles and with the above LP recorded in 1976. Strangely, Salif Keita is absent from the cover photo, though his vocals on the three tracks on the album drive the band. Of significance on this LP is "Kibaru", a song which the group originally performed at the legendary "battle of the bands" concert held in Bamako in 1974. The Ambassadeurs great rival at the time was the Rail Band, Salif's old outfit, now lead by Mory Kanté. To decide who was the most popular group a concert was organised and both bands were instructed to write a new song for the event. The Ambassadeurs du Motel performed "Kibaru", and by all accounts the audience went wild. The song promoted a literacy campaign organised by the national government and, at 22 minutes, it fills all of side 2. The concert produced no clear winner on the day and it was officially declared a draw. Salif and Kanté Manfila recorded a further two LPs with Les Ambassadeurs du Motel before forming Les Ambassadeurs Internationaux.