Welcome to The Salif Keita Global Foundation










FOLON BY SALIF KEITA- SONG DEDICATED TO ALBINISM AWARENE

WHAT IS ALBINISM?
al·bi·nism
: Albinism is a defect of
melanin production that results in little or no color (pigment) in the skin, hair, and eyes in varying degrees. It is often a major cause of skin cancer in all races.
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Salif Keita and other people with albinism on stage at Albinism Awareness Forum in Bamako, Mali in January 2009. The forum was presided by President of Mali HE Amadou Toumani Toure and President of Comores Islands, HE Mohamed Abdouloihabi.

 

Albinism is beautiful and UNIQUE!
Please tell us about your UNIQUENESS!
Sign our Guestbook!

 

STOP THE INSANITY,
STOP GENOCIDE NOW!


Urgent:
We always need sunscreen, sunglasses and hats.
The Salif Keita Global Foundation distributes more than 42,000 tubes of sunscreen per year! We can do more with your help!

Please Email:
skgf@salifkeita.us for more information about the SKGF and helping the fight for albinos in Africa and around the world.

Click here to DONATE NOW!

Visit www.rilke-projekt.de which supports the Salif Keita Global Foundation with this unique project!

 

Albinism is beautiful and different!
Please tell us about your difference.
Sign our Guestbook!


Salif Keita




Plan of Action

We have a plan! Click here to read it.

Contact

skgf@salifkeita.us

Links

Albinism Advocacy
Please sign petition to help people with albinism in Tanzania! 

Albinism - Wikipedia

The National Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentation

 




Album "La Difference" to Benefit Albinism

CONGRATULATIONS TO SALIF KEITA FOR WINNING
THE VICTOIRES DE LA MUSIQUE
(French 'Grammy' equivalent)
FOR BEST WORLD MUSIC 2010
FOR 'LA DIFFERENCE'
and the cause of ALBINISM it  represents!

"I'm Black/My skin is white/And, I love this/ It's the difference/ That makes me unique"
(translated from French "la difference")
la difference (Universal/Emercy)

 
 

The Salif Keita Global Foundation is a non-profit organization founded by Malian musician and singer, Salif Keita.

The US-based non-profit tax-exempt 501(c) 3 organization brings media attention to the global plight of people with albinism, has advocacy for their rights and social integration, and raises funds to provide them with free healthcare and educational services in the US, Africa and around the world.  The organization is headed by Mr. Keita's Malian-American wife, journalist and activist, Coumba Makalou Keita.
 
In the US, people with albinism are often teased for their appearance and have limited support groups and information about their condition. In many African nations, albino infanticide is a relatively common practice.  Even those who escape death at birth are still vulnerable to discrimination and/or violent attacks. In some countries, like Panama (Kuna people) and the Fiji Islands, albinism is considered to be the blessing which it truly is! 

The Salif Keita Global Foundation develops media campaigns that positively portray those with albinism, creates programs to raise their self-esteem, provides information and support groups, connects them with organizations, provides job training, and legal assistance for those in danger of persecution and healthcare services. The organization is dedicated to ending the persecution and genocide against persons with albinism.

About one in 13,000 babies in the world are born albino.  In Africa, the ratio is as high as 1 in 1,000 babies. Unfortunately, albinos in many African nations are simply killed due to superstition and ignorance about the skin condition that is caused by a complete lack of pigmentation, or more simply said, they die "because they are black people who have white skin" said Mr. Keita,"whether it's due to discrimination or the hot sun, they are in perpetual danger. Creating thoughts of love towards those with the condition is the first priority and the strongest power in changing the lives of those with albinism. After that, every other positive change will have to follow automatically." 

 
Mrs.Keita believes that albinism is "a truly beautiful trait that the entire world needs to celebrate with love and acceptance."  Under her guidance, SKGF has launched a campaign called "Stop A.L.B.I.N.O.S. Genocide Now!" which uses the acronym to redefine the term 'albinos' to simply mean ' A Living Being In Need Of Safety™' to bring a new meaning to the often negatively used term.

"It's a sad thought to know that a human being because of their color or lack thereof, considered Albinos in Africa and around the world, have to continue in our lifetime to endure  persecution, social isolation, murder, human rights violations, denial of fair access to education, as well as to healthcare and employment", said Mrs.Keita. "It is a collective human duty to create global awareness and advocacy and speak out against these grave crimes against humanity, or else we are all guilty in one way or another of supporting hatred, discrimination and genocide". 
  


Listen to Executive Director of The Salif Keita Global Foundation, Coumba Makalou Keita and other special guests, on RFI in a special discussion about albinism


Salif Keita releases new album "TALE" featuring Esperanza Spalding, Manu Dibango, Bobby Mcferrin, produced by Phillipe Cohen of Gotan Project (2012)

Salif Keita accuses
African Leaders of albino sacrifices to hold on to power


Salif Keita arrives in Malawi to 
perform for first-time ever and makes a demand to the government to improve the lives of albinos in Malawi

Paralympics 2012, Nantenin Keita, albino daughter of our founder Salif Keita, wins Bronze Medal in 100 meter race

La Voix d'Or de l'Afrique" , a children's book about the life of Salif Keita, by Michel Piquemal, is published by Albin Michel Jeunesse Paris (2012)

Forbes magazine list Salif Keita as 7th Most Powerful celebrity in Africa (2011)

Salif Keita tops
CNN lists of 10 African Celebrities (2011)

Yves Rocher Foundation
Makes It's Annual Donation to Support 3000 Albinos in Mali (2011)

Salif Keita is named Peace Ambassador for the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (July 2010)

Congratulations to the Tanzanian people for
electing their first albino MP to Parliament!
Equal rights WILL be achieved for all persons with albinism in Africa and beyond!

Listen to NPR to learn more about Salif Keita's plight for albinos

Thank you to Congressman Gerry Connolly for sponsoring the new US law against the African albino genocide!
H. Res. 1088: Recognizing the plight of people with albinism in East Africa and condemning their murder and mutilation. 

Recent interview in New York where Salif Keita talks about his foundation and the condition of Africans born with albinism. Year of Peace and Security in Africa September 21, 2010


"Peace and Security is an everyday goal. I hope to bring joy and hope to the people through my music, and ask them to put their weapons down so we can work together in peace to build a better Africa."
Salif Keita, AU Peace Ambassador
    
African Union Peace Security Ambassadors: Award accepted by Mrs Keita Coumba Makalou

Salif Keita performs at Cote D'Ivoire National Reconciliation Concert
July 30, 2011

 


Performing in Abidjan for the country's National Reconciliation Concert on July 30. Salif Keita was also greeted by the albino community in Abidjan and vowed to pursue all responsible for the violence against ALBINOS in the international courts.

Salif Keita headlines East African Tour (Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania)
to raise awareness for Albino Rights


Salif Keita with his wife, Coumba Makalou, on stage with members
of the Ugandan Albino Association in Kampala(10/10)

Salif Keita Fights Albinism Stigma in Kenya (October 2010)