BAMAKO (Reuters) – Amadou Bagayoko, a Grammy-nominated Malian musician who gained worldwide recognition for blending traditional West African melodies with Western rock and pop influences as one half of the duo Amadou & Mariam, has died at the age of 70, announced the Malian government.
In a statement broadcast on state television, the Ministry of Culture expressed sorrow at the news of Amadou Bagayoko’s passing on Friday. Describing him as a visually impaired artist who left an indelible mark on both the Malian and global music scenes.
Born in Bamako in 1954, Bagayoko had a profound passion for music from a young age. He crossed paths with his wife and musical collaborator Mariam Doumbia at the Institute for Young Blind People in Bamako during the 1970s, as reported by Radio France Internationale.
Their widely acclaimed album “Dimanche à Bamako” (Sunday in Bamako) in 2004 propelled them onto the international stage, and their 2008 release “Welcome To Mali” received a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary World Music Album.
Amadou & Mariam had the honor of opening for Coldplay in 2009, performing at the Nobel Peace Prize concert the same year when U.S. President Barack Obama was awarded the prize, and entertaining audiences at major music festivals worldwide, including Glastonbury in the UK. Additionally, they composed the official song for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
Condolences poured in from international artists online. “Amadou! We will always be united… alongside you wherever you may go,” expressed French-born Spanish musician Manu Chao, who produced “Dimanche à Bamako.” Senegalese singer-songwriter Youssou N’Dour shared, “I will forever cherish his friendship. My thoughts are with my dear Mariam.”
(Reporting by Fadimata Kontao; writing by Edward McAllister; Editing by Tomasz Janowski)
