Leon Keïta: the Guinean who somehow became a huge star in … – Far Out Magazine

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A black and white photo of a man with a moustache named Leon Keïta.

Samy Ben Redjeb’s German Analog Africa label has spent over a decade giving the hidden treasures of African music a platform. In 2006, he stumbled upon Leon Keïta’s infectious sound and knew he’d found a gem. He was in Bobo Dioulasso, where the music is infused with the sounds of Mali and Guinea – its music scene was incredibly rich with Afrobeat, funk, and jazz, spawning bands like Super Djata Band and Bembeya Jazz.

Those bands, in particular, were best-sellers, with record dealers importing their material in huge quantities…