Amadou Bagayoko, one half of the internationally acclaimed Malian musical duo Amadou & Mariam, has died at the age of 70 after a period of illness, his family confirmed to AFP on Friday. The blind guitarist and singer, whose vibrant blend of Malian rhythms and Western rock captivated global audiences, passed away in a Bamako clinic.
Together with his wife, Mariam Doumbia, Amadou formed a partnership that broke musical boundaries, merging traditional African instruments with blues and rock influences. The couple met at Bamako’s institute for the young blind in the 1970s and later rose to become one of Africa’s most celebrated musical acts.
Amadou had reportedly been unwell for some time, according to his son-in-law, Youssouf Fadiga. Their longtime manager, Yannick Tardy, based in France, said Amadou had felt fatigued and was taken to a clinic, where he later died.
Mali’s minister of culture, Mamou Daffe, expressed deep sorrow, describing the loss as “dismaying”.
Amadou and Mariam’s story began in 1976, when they bonded over a shared love of music. In their early years, they toured to raise awareness around blindness and disability. Over the decades, they went on to produce hits that fused the balafon, kora, and djembe with the sounds of James Brown and Pink Floyd — a band Amadou idolised.
The couple’s breakthrough came with the 2004 album Dimanche à Bamako, produced by Manu Chao, which catapulted them to global recognition. The Spanish-French singer paid tribute to Amadou on Instagram, posting: “We will always be together… With you, wherever you go,” alongside a photo with the duo.
Often referred to as “the blind couple from Mali”, Amadou and Mariam went on to perform with major artists such as Damon Albarn of Blur and Gorillaz, and Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour. They graced the stage at Glastonbury and toured with music legends like U2, Stevie Wonder, and Coldplay.
In 2009, they performed at the Nobel Peace Prize concert in honour of then-US President Barack Obama, who later met the duo. In a 2024 interview, Amadou recalled the moment fondly, saying, “Barack Obama told us he liked our music – and Malian music too.” Mariam added, “We were very, very happy.”
The duo also achieved a Grammy nomination in 2010 and earned accolades at the BBC Radio Awards and France’s Victoires de la Musique.
Amadou Bagayoko is survived by his wife Mariam and their three children.
