Latest news with #DimancheaBamako
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Thousands attend funeral of legendary Malian musician Amadou
Thousands of people gathered in Bamako on Sunday for the funeral of Malian music star Amadou Bagayako -- of the blind husband-and-wife duo Amadou & Mariam -- two days after his death at the age of 70. The Grammy-nominated blind guitarist and singer died on Friday afternoon following an illness, leaving behind his widow Mariam Doumbia, also blind, and their three children. Friends, relatives, fans and fellow artists flocked to the ceremony in the Malian capital Bamako -- including famous musician Salif Keita, Culture Minister Mamou Daffe and ex-Prime Minister Moussa Mara. In the crowd, gathered under large tents, some were dressed in black but many had opted for traditional white robes known as boubous. Amadou "will be buried in family intimacy in the courtyard of his home", family spokesman Djiby Sacko told AFP. The death of the guitar virtuoso triggered tributes from around the world. He and his wife are perhaps best known globally for having composed the official song for the 2006 football World Cup in Germany and playing at the closing ceremony for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. In 2004, their album "Dimanche a Bamako" (Sunday in Bamako), produced by Franco-Spanish star Manu Chao, had brought them worldwide success. Since then, their songs have regularly graced dance floors across the globe. The couple met in 1976 at the Institute for the young blind in Bamako. Amadou was a 21-year-old musician, Mariam an 18-year-old singer, both with similar taste in music. lar-sjd/djt/bc
Asharq Al-Awsat
05-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Iconic Malian Musician Amadou Bagayoko of Amadou & Mariam Dies at 70
Grammy-nominated Malian musician Amadou Bagayoko, who won global fame by moulding traditional West African sounds with Western rock and pop influences as one half of the blind duo Amadou & Mariam, has died aged 70, the Malian government said. The ministry of culture "learned with concern of the passing of artist Amadou Bagayoko this Friday," it said in a statement read on state television. "Amadou was a blind man who made his mark on the Malian and international scene." Bagayoko was born in Bamako in 1954 and played music from an early age. He met his wife and musical partner Mariam Doumbia at the Institute for Young Blind People in Bamako in the 1970s, according to Radio France Internationale. Their 2004 album "Dimanche a Bamako" (Sunday in Bamako) put them on the international map and the 2008 release "Welcome To Mali" was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary World Music Album, Reuters reported. They opened for British band Coldplay in 2009, performed at the Nobel Peace Prize concert that same year, when U.S. President Barack Obama was awarded the prize, and played to crowds at some of the world's biggest music festivals, including Glastonbury in the UK. They also composed the official song for the 2006 soccer World Cup. International artists offered their condolences online. "Amadou! We'll always be together ... with you wherever you go," said French-born Spanish musician Manu Chao, who produced "Dimanche a Bamako". "I will never forget his friendship," said Senegalese singer-songwriter Youssou N'Dour. "My thoughts are with my dear Mariam."
Al Jazeera
05-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Al Jazeera
Iconic Malian musician Amadou Bagayoko dies at 70
Grammy-nominated Malian musician Amadou Bagayoko, who won global fame by moulding traditional West African sounds with Western rock and pop influences as one half of the blind duo Amadou and Mariam, has died aged 70. The Malian Ministry of Culture 'learned with concern of the passing of artist Amadou Bagayoko this Friday,' it said in a statement read on state television on Saturday. 'Amadou was a blind man who made his mark on the Malian and international scene.' Bagayoko died in the city of Bamako, his birthplace. His stepson Youssouf Fadiga told AFP news agency the musician 'had been ill for a while' but did not specify what the ailment was. He is survived by Mariam, who was also his wife, and son, Sam, also a musician. Dubbed 'the blind couple from Mali', Amadou and Mariam became one of Africa's best-selling and beloved couples, playing alongside the likes of Damon Albarn of Blur and Gorillaz, and Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour – a childhood idol. Born in 1954, Bagayoko went blind when he was 15 because of a congenital cataract. He studied music at Mali's Institute for the Young Blind where he met his future wife, Mariam Doumbia. The couple formed their band Mali's Blind Couple in 1980, making their mark locally and internationally. At the start, they sang songs to raise awareness of the problems facing their peers living with blindness and disabilities before their blend of traditional African influences with elements of rock, blues and pop won them a global following. They produced more than 10 award-winning albums, including France's Victoire de la Musique, in 2005 for Dimanche a Bamako and again in 2013 for Folila. Dimanche a Bamako also won them one of the BBC Radio Awards for World Music in 2006. Their 2008 album, Welcome to Mali, was nominated for Best Contemporary World Music Album at the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary World Music Album. They opened for British band Coldplay in 2009, and performed at the Nobel Peace Prize concert that same year when US President Barack Obama was awarded the prize. Bagayogo's last world-class performance with Doumbia was at the closing ceremony of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. French-born Spanish musician Manu Chao, who produced the album Dimanche a Bamako, offered his condolences online, alongside other international artists. 'Amadou! We'll always be together … with you wherever you go,' he said. 'I will never forget his friendship,' said Senegalese singer-songwriter Youssou N'Dour. 'My thoughts are with my dear Mariam.'
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Iconic Malian musician Amadou Bagayoko of Amadou & Mariam dies at 70
BAMAKO (Reuters) -Grammy-nominated Malian musician Amadou Bagayoko, who won global fame by moulding traditional West African sounds with Western rock and pop influences as one half of the blind duo Amadou & Mariam, has died aged 70, the Malian government said. The ministry of culture "learned with concern of the passing of artist Amadou Bagayoko this Friday," it said in a statement read on state television. "Amadou was a blind man who made his mark on the Malian and international scene." Bagayoko was born in Bamako in 1954 and played music from an early age. He met his wife and musical partner Mariam Doumbia at the Institute for Young Blind People in Bamako in the 1970s, according to Radio France Internationale. Their 2004 album "Dimanche a Bamako" (Sunday in Bamako) put them on the international map and the 2008 release "Welcome To Mali" was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary World Music Album. They opened for British band Coldplay in 2009, performed at the Nobel Peace Prize concert that same year, when U.S. President Barack Obama was awarded the prize, and played to crowds at some of the world's biggest music festivals, including Glastonbury in the UK. They also composed the official song for the 2006 soccer World Cup. International artists offered their condolences online. "Amadou! We'll always be together ... with you wherever you go," said French-born Spanish musician Manu Chao, who produced "Dimanche a Bamako". "I will never forget his friendship," said Senegalese singer-songwriter Youssou N'Dour. "My thoughts are with my dear Mariam."
Reuters
05-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Reuters
Iconic Malian musician Amadou Bagayoko of Amadou & Mariam dies at 70
BAMAKO, April 5 (Reuters) - Grammy-nominated Malian musician Amadou Bagayoko, who won global fame by moulding traditional West African sounds with Western rock and pop influences as one half of the blind duo Amadou & Mariam, has died aged 70, the Malian government said. The ministry of culture "learned with concern of the passing of artist Amadou Bagayoko this Friday," it said in a statement read on state television. "Amadou was a blind man who made his mark on the Malian and international scene." Bagayoko was born in Bamako in 1954 and played music from an early age. He met his wife and musical partner Mariam Doumbia at the Institute for Young Blind People in Bamako in the 1970s, according to Radio France Internationale. Their 2004 album "Dimanche a Bamako" (Sunday in Bamako) put them on the international map and the 2008 release "Welcome To Mali" was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary World Music Album. They opened for British band Coldplay in 2009, performed at the Nobel Peace Prize concert that same year, when U.S. President Barack Obama was awarded the prize, and played to crowds at some of the world's biggest music festivals, including Glastonbury in the UK. They also composed the official song for the 2006 soccer World Cup. International artists offered their condolences online. "Amadou! We'll always be together ... with you wherever you go," said French-born Spanish musician Manu Chao, who produced "Dimanche a Bamako". "I will never forget his friendship," said Senegalese singer-songwriter Youssou N'Dour. "My thoughts are with my dear Mariam."
