Malian musician Amadou Bagayoko has died at the age of 70. He was one half of the celebrated Malian musical duo Amadou & Mariam. The news of his death comes as the world reflects on the duo’s profound contributions to music and their role in elevating Mali’s music scene on a global stage.
Amadou & Mariam, both visually impaired, first crossed paths at Mali’s Institute for the Young Blind, where Doumbia lost his sight at the tender age of five. They had both played side-by-side in the institute’s Eclipse Orchestra, furthering their connection. It was their common interest in music and obvious desire to perform that helped forge the connection.
1996 was a consequential year, as the duo moved their base of operations to Paris, where they were signed by the record label Emarcy. This change was the start of an incredible run that would soon earn them national recognition. They took the world by storm, climbing to the top of music tracks and playlists, performing at all large U.S. based festivals including Coachella and Lollapalooza. These sudden-mad-hits, combined with their famously frenetic live sets, rocketed them into the heart of the universal public consciousness.
Amadou & Mariam received invitations to share the stage with iconic bands like Blur during their historic 2009 reunion shows in Hyde Park. Their eclectic sound and high-energy, colorful stage show caught the attention of television networks. This notoriety led them to national television, including unforgettable performances on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon.
Over the course of their career, Amadou & Mariam worked with and performed alongside some of music’s biggest superstars, such as Stevie Wonder and U2. They stretched and pushed the sound together on celebrated records with Santigold and TV on the Radio. This made their impact on the global music scene all the more indelible.
In 1998 they put out Sou Ni Tile, their first studio album recorded outside of Africa. It turned out to be the biggest record of their career. It was this record that powered Scène Française to success on Parisian airwaves with its massive single “Je Pense à Toi.” This success laid the groundwork for future projects and coalitions.
Amadou Bagayoko listened as I implored him to consider how far Mali’s music industry had come. He added, musicians played an important role on the creative side, providing programming at international festivals. Malian musicians just love to listen to music, they’re fascinated by other music. They have a lot of courage. We and many others were inspired and encouraged by Malian musicians like Ali Farka Toure and Oumou Sangare. His words further emphasize how cultural exchange feeds creativity and innovation into their musical ecosystem.
The duo’s album “Dimanche à Bamako” earned them critical acclaim and several prestigious awards, including trophies at France’s Victoire de la Musique for both “Dimanche à Bamako” and “Folila.” They received acclaim from BBC Radio who awarded them a World Music award for everything that they were doing and their powerful work.
Amadou & Mariam have played a vital role in expanding Mali’s creative scene. As advocates, these musicians have done so much for spreading awareness of and popularizing Malian music across the globe. Similarly, their artistic pilgrimage influenced thousands of musicians and artists around the world and helped shine a light on Mali’s deep cultural roots.