MALI: Blind husband and wife musical act, Amadou and Mariam, say international success has never taken them far from their roots

Record ID: 190271

  • Title: MALI: Blind husband and wife musical act, Amadou and Mariam, say international success has never taken them far from their roots
  • Date: 9th February 2006
  • Summary: AMADOU & MARIAM CROSSING A STREET IN BAMAKO (KALABAN COURA)
  • Embargoed: 24th February 2006 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Mali
  • Country: Mali
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVABATTPUOU6LVISXC536JKF9OOB
  • Story Text: Often known as "The Blind Couple from Mali", husband
    and wife musical team Amadou Bagayoko and Mariam Doumbia
    found success bridging the gap between traditional African
    and Western music markets, blending sounds and influences
    from music around the world. That success shows no sign of slowing down.
    They are hot tips to win this year's Grammy for Best
    Contemporary World Music Album.
    The Malian couple's 11th album "Dimanche Bamako"
    (Sunday in Bamako) has sold over 500,000 copies worldwide.
    Produced by French star Manu Chao, "Dimanche Bamako"
    is described as a mixture of reggae, jazz, blues and rock.
    It reached number 2 in France's pop charts last year,
    making it the highest ever ranked African album in European pop charts.
    The album will soon gain even more exposure when an
    hour-long documentary about it's recording and Amadou and
    Mariam's home life in Mali is released in the UK.
    Guitarist Amadou and singer Mariam met in Mali's
    Institute for the Young Blind where Amadou was teaching music.
    The two, now both in their 40s, were married in 1980
    and played their first official concert in Bamako later that year.
    They recorded their first cassette album in 1986 after
    they moved to the Ivory Coast to pursue their musical careers.
    Amadou and Mariam now spend their time between Paris
    and Bamako with their three children.
    "When we are in Mali, we have popular success. Our door
    is always open, everybody comes to see us, we talk,
    everybody knows each other, so it is very simple," said
    Amadou. "It is natural for all of us. When we are in Europe
    it's a bit different because people stay in their
    apartment, and this makes a big difference."
    Despite their growing international fame and living
    they say they've remained in touch with their roots in Mali.
    "No, nothing is lost," said Amadou. "In fact, as we are
    always in between Africa and Europe, we think that as
    Africans we deliver a message from Africa - a message about
    the African way of life and African culture. Beside this,
    once back at home, we are surrounded with Africans so we
    don't lose all this (African spirit) and even if Europeans
    come to see us performing, Africans are never far away."
    This month (February) Amadou and Mariam will join
    Sudanese rap artist Emmanuel Jal and Algerian guitarist and
    vocalist Souad Massi on a twelve date 'African Soul Rebels
    Tour 2006' throughout the UK.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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