Amadou & Mariam
Mali's blind couple: 50 years of love and music, from Bamako to the world's greatest scenes.
Amadou Bagayoko (guitar and singing) and Mariam Doumbia (song) met at the Institute of the Blind Youth in Bamako, where they sang in the Eclipse Orchestra.
Married in 1980, they built a career from Bamako to Abidjan and then Paris, before the world consecration of "Sunday in Bamako" (2004), produced by Manu Chao and certified platinum.
Their album "Welcome to Mali" (2008), written by Damon Albarn's "Sabali" tube, was named for the Grammy Awards.
First U2 games, opening concert of the 2010 World Cup, collaborations with Damon Albarn, Keziah Jones or -M-: the duo has become one of Africa's most beautiful musical exports.
Amadou Bagayoko died on April 4, 2025; the world has greeted an exceptional guitarist, and Mariam continues to transmit their joint work.