Malian Afropop singer Salif Keita named advisor to junta chief

Malian Afropop musician, Salif Keita, popularly referred to as the ‘Golden Voice of Africa’, has been appointed special advisor to the head of Mali’s military junta.

This was announced in a decree signed by Colonel Assimi Goita, the military leader who ousted the country’s elected president, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, in 2020.

The transitional president, in a decree dated August 11 and published August 14 2023, appointed five new special advisors.

The decree does not give details about the singer’s new role.

The 73-year-old singer has been a strong supporter of the junta, endorsing its narrative of national sovereignty and calling for the departure of UN peacekeeping troops from Mali.

Recall that Salif Keita had, in a letter some days ago, resigned from an assembly set up by the military in power since 2020 to act as a legislative body.

He gave no reason for his letter of resignation, stating that he would always remain “the undisputed friend of my country’s soldiers.”