Amadou Bagayoko, one half of the blind duo Amadou & Mariam, has died at the age of 70.
The Malian government announced his passing in a statement read on state television, praising Bagayoko as a musician who “made his mark on the Malian and international scene.” Bagayoko was born in Bamako in 1954 and began playing music at a young age.
He met his wife and musical partner Mariam Doumbia at the Institute for Young Blind People in Bamako in the 1970s.
The duo gained international recognition with their 2004 album “Dimanche a Bamako” and were nominated for a Grammy Award in 2008 for their album “Welcome To Mali.” They performed at numerous music festivals, including Glastonbury, and opened for British band Coldplay in 200 and composed the official song for the 2006 soccer World Cup.
International artists, including Manu Chao and Youssou N’Dour, have paid tribute to Bagayoko, mourning the loss of a talented musician and friend.
