Blind duo Amadou & Mariam, composed of musicians Amadou Bagayoko and Mariam Doumbia, left an indelible mark on the music world with their extraordinary success story that began in 1978. The pair’s journey from humble beginnings to international stardom was marked by perseverance, talent, and innovative collaborations.
Born in Bamako, Mali, Amadou developed a passion for music after losing his sight due to congenital cataracts. He compensated by honing his sense of hearing and became a skilled guitar player. After joining one of Mali’s greatest bands, Les Ambassadeurs du Motel, he quit in 1978 to attend a school for the blind as a teacher.
There, Amadou met Mariam Doumbia, who had also lost her sight due to measles at age six. The pair married in 1981 and began performing together, eventually forming the band Mirya with other blind musicians. As their popularity grew, they started playing music as a duo, which led to international success.
Their breakthrough came when they collaborated with French-Spanish pop star Manu Chao, who produced and co-wrote songs for their 2004 album Dimanche à Bamako. The resulting fusion of African R&B and global influences catapulted the duo to stardom, selling over half a million copies worldwide.
Throughout their illustrious career, Amadou & Mariam headlined at festivals and concerts globally, performing alongside rock legends such as Damon Albarn and Eric Clapton. Their albums, including Welcome to Mali (2008) and Folila (2012), showcased their unique blend of African music with international styles.
Amadou passed away in 2024, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most successful blind musicians of all time. His wife Mariam and their three children will remember his remarkable journey from blindness to music stardom.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/apr/06/amadou-bagayoko-obituary