Amadou Bagayoko of Acclaimed Malian Duo Amadou & Mariam Passes Away at 70
Amadou Bagayoko, half of the celebrated Malian duo Amadou & Mariam, has died at 70. He was known for blending Malian music with Western rock influences. The duo gained international fame in the 1990s, attracted prominent fans, and performed worldwide at major festivals. Their influence continues with recent albums and performances, including the 2024 Summer Paralympics ceremony.
Amadou Bagayoko, the esteemed singer and guitarist of the acclaimed Malian duo Amadou & Mariam, has passed away at the age of 70. This was confirmed by Mali’s Minister of Culture, Mamou Daffé, on state television, with Bagayoko’s family noting he had been ill for some time, although the specific cause of death remains unknown.
Bagayoko experienced blindness at the age of 15 due to a congenital cataract. He studied music at the Institute for the Young Blind in Mali, where he met his future wife and musical partner, Mariam Doumbia, who had also been blind since childhood. The duo began performing in Mali during the 1970s and 1980s, eventually gaining international recognition in the mid-1990s.
As Amadou & Mariam, they successfully brought Malian music to a broader audience, garnering admiration from notable figures such as Stevie Wonder, David Gilmour, and Damon Albarn. The duo participated in Albarn’s Africa Express project, co-produced their Grammy-nominated 2009 album “Welcome to Mali,” and served as opening acts for Blur during their 2009 reunion performances.
Bagayoko was recognized for his distinctive musical style, which merged traditional Malian melodies with Western rock influences, earning him a place on Rolling Stone’s list of the 250 Best Guitarists. “People are often surprised when we explain how much we were influenced by Western pop music,” he remarked. “I grew up listening to records by Rod Stewart, Led Zeppelin, James Brown… That’s because they were the only records we had in Mali!”
Over the last twenty years, the duo has been prominent at various global music festivals such as Glastonbury, Coachella, and Lollapalooza, and they opened for major international tours by artists like Coldplay and U2. Amadou & Mariam’s latest albums include 2012’s “Folila,” featuring collaborations with artists like Santigold, and 2017’s “La Confusion.” In September 2024, they performed at the closing ceremony of the 2024 Summer Paralympics in Paris, delivering a rendition of Serge Gainsbourg’s “Je suis venu te dire que je m’en vais.”
Amadou Bagayoko’s passing marks a significant loss for the music world, particularly for African artists who have made profound contributions globally. His innovative fusion of Malian music with Western rock has not only inspired many but also facilitated greater appreciation for African music on the world stage. Amadou & Mariam’s impactful career and their collaborations with esteemed artists underscore their legacy within the music industry.
Original Source: www.rollingstone.com
