Legendary Malian singer and songwriter Salif Keita steps onto the COLORS stage with a stark, affecting performance of “Aboubakrin,” a song drawn from his new album So Kono, released on the 11th of April via Nø Førmat!. Long recognised as one of Africa’s most distinctive voices, Keita has spent his career dismantling musical borders, blending the Mandingue traditions of Mali with jazz, funk and pop, always guided by a commitment to authenticity over fashion.

“Aboubakrin” captures Keita at his most raw, performing solo with voice and acoustic guitar. Sung in Bambara, the song stands as a tribute to his friend and spiritual guide, shaped by themes of loyalty, mortality and resilience that have long been central to his music.

After announcing his retirement following 2018’s Un Autre Blanc, Keita’s return with So Kono is both unexpected and quietly radical, the work of an artist intent on clarity rather than spectacle. Now embarking on an acoustic tour across Europe, including a headline date at KOKO in London on 29 May, Keita presents a body of work that honours tradition while remaining firmly rooted in the present.

You can listen to and purchase the album HERE