Amadou Bagayoko and his wife, Mariam, a blind duo from Mali, achieved significant success and fame in the music industry as Amadou and Mariam.

Amadou Bagayoko, a Grammy-nominated Malian musician, passed away at the age of 70. He gained global recognition as part of the blind duo Amadou and Mariam, known for combining traditional West African sounds with Western rock and pop influences.

The Malian Ministry of Culture announced their concern over the loss of artist Amadou Bagayoko. He made a significant impact on both the Malian and international music scene despite his blindness.

Bagayoko died in his hometown of Bamako. His stepson, Youssouf Fadiga, revealed that the musician had been ill for some time without specifying the cause. He is survived by his wife and musical partner, Mariam, as well as their son Sam, who is also a musician.

‘The blind couple from Mali’

Dubbed “the blind couple from Mali”, Amadou and Mariam became one of Africa’s most successful and beloved musical acts. They performed alongside renowned artists such as Damon Albarn from Blur and Gorillaz, and Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour.

Bagayoko was born in 1954 and lost his sight at the age of 15 due to a congenital cataract. He studied music at Mali’s Institute for the Young Blind, where he met his future wife, Mariam Doumbia. They formed the band Mali’s Blind Couple in 1980 and gained both local and international success.
Initially, they used their music to raise awareness about the challenges faced by people living with blindness and disabilities. Over time, their unique blend of traditional African influences with rock, blues, and pop elements won them a global following.
They released over 10 award-winning albums, including “Dimanche à Bamako” and “Folila,” winning prestigious awards such as the Victoire de la Musique and the BBC Radio Awards for World Music.

Their 2008 album “Welcome to Mali” was nominated for Best Contemporary World Music Album at the Grammy Awards.
They opened for Coldplay in 2009 and performed at the Nobel Peace Prize concert. Their last major performance with Doumbia was at the closing ceremony of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
Condolences poured in from the international music community. Manu Chao, a French-born Spanish musician who produced “Dimanche à Bamako,” offered his condolences online, expressing his friendship with Bagayoko. Senegalese singer-songwriter Youssou N’Dour also shared his thoughts, dedicating them to Mariam.