(headline image: Amadou & Mariam – Photo by Julio Bandit)
Amadou Bagayoko, guitarist and vocalist of the acclaimed Malian duo Amadou & Mariam, passed away on April 4, 2025.
Born in Bamako, Mali, he lost his sight early in life and met Mariam Doumbia at the Institute for the Young Blind, where their musical and personal partnership began. Amadou joined National Orchestra B at age 14, later performing with icons like Salif Keita and Manfila Kanté in Les Ambassadeurs.
In the late 1980s, the couple relocated to the Ivory Coast, recording five albums between 1988 and 1993 before returning to Mali. Their music, marked by syncopated rhythms, expressive guitar work, and lyrics in multiple languages, earned international acclaim.
Their 2005 album Dimanche À Bamako, produced by Manu Chao, became a gold record in France and cemented their place in world music history. More about Amadou & Mariam.
Author: World Music Central News Room
World music news from the editors at World Music Central