Amadou & Mariam 05.0520
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The Magic Couple

Amadou & Mariam are an amazing musical duo from Mali, composed of the couple Amadou Bagayoko (guitar and vocals) and Mariam Doumbia (vocals). The pair, known as “the blind couple from Mali” met at Mali’s Institute for the Young Blind, and found they shared an interest in music. Amadou lost his vision at the age of 16 while Mariam became blind at age 5 as a consequence of untreated measles. The duo’s early recordings in the 1980s and 1990s feature sparse arrangements of guitar and voice. Since the late 1990s Amadou & Mariam produce music that mixes traditional Mali sound with rock guitars, Syrian violins, Cubantrumpets, Egyptian ney, Indian tablas and Dogon percussion. All these elements put together have been referred to as “Afro-blues”.  I hope one day to venture to the Festival Au Désert in the North of Mali, where they have played in the past.