Analog Africa are releasing a new compilation by Guinean singer and guitarist Leon Keïta, who was “a fixture on the Malian music scene” during the 1970s.

Born in Conakry on Guinea's Atlantic coast in 1947, by 1970 Keïta was living in Mali and helping to found the legendary Rail-Band. Following that, he joined Les Ambassadeurs Internationaux and toured with the group through West Africa. He also found the time to record a series of solo albums in the late 1970s, and its from those albums that this compilation draws. With elements of funk, Afrobeat, jazz and Afro-Cuban music, these are grooves emblematic of Mandingue music at this time, but with a fresh take courtesy of Keïta.

The album was compiled by Analog Africa’s Samy Ben Redjeb who was able to find the albums during a visit to Bobo Dioulasso, the second largest city in Burkina Faso. He says: “Within a week, I was able to find most of Leon Keïta’s output”.

The album comes twelve years after the release of the label’s critically acclaimed Bambara Mystic Soul compilation, which explored the music of Burkina Faso.

The first single from the album, ‘Diarabi Mana’, is out now. Originally recorded in 1979, it features Beninese Orchestre Black Santiago, and trumpetist Ignace de Souza.

A limited edition LP of 2,000 copies will also be available. It will be pressed on 180g virgin vinyl and housed in a silk-screen printed cover.

The compilation album Leon Keïta (Analog Africa Dance Edition No. 16) will be out October 6 on Analog Africa. Pre-orders available from analogafrica.bandcamp.com/album/leon-keita-analog-africa-dance-edition-no-16