Malian vocalist Salif Keita inaugurates Penn Presents’ first African Culture Series with a performance at the Annenberg Center Oct. 20. The singer is part of a long line of griots, or storytellers, descended from Sundjata Keita, founder of the 13th-century Mandingo empire. Salif Keita broke with tradition to embrace music as the vehicle for telling his stories about life’s joys and heartbreaks. His latest album, “Moffou,” takes its name from the club he opened in Bambara, Mali, to promote West African music.

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- SALIF KEITA: Sunday, Oct. 20, at 7:30 p.m. in Zellerbach Theatre, Annenberg Center, 3680 Walnut St. Tickets $37, $32, $28 and $23; discounts for students, seniors and Penn affiliates available. Tickets/info: www.pennpresents.org or 215-898-3900.