Frank Bessem's Musiques d'Afrique: Amadou & Mariam (Le Couple Aveugle du Mali)

Back to Musiques d'Afrique Back to Musiques du Mali

---

Amadou Bagayoko and Mariam Doumbia met each other at an association of young blind people in Bamako. After some time, Amadou realised that, without Mariam being around, his life was senseless. So he asked her to stay with him forever, which she accepted. From 1989 on, they recorded five cassettes in Abidjan. All cassettes achieved a hugh success, especially in Mali. Their songs are easy accessible, sung by both Amadou and Mariam. The lyrics are mostly in Bambara, although some songs are in French, addressing popular themes and current problems in Malian society. On the first two cassettes, the singing of Amadou and Mariam is just accompanied by a guitar, on later volumes, more instruments were added. Their first CD Sou ni Tile is recorded in Europe, with some new songs and songs already published on one of the cassettes. One song of that album, Mon amour, ma chérie, has made them known among a larger audience. Since then, a compilation of older songs (the CD Se Te Djon Ye) and new recordings were issued on a regular basis. As on Sou ni Tile, their latest albums use the combination of bambara melodies and rhythms with instruments from outside of Mali.

Born:
Style: Mali blues

Discography:

Title	Year	Label	Remarks
The Magic Couple	2009	Wrasse Records WRASS244	The Best of 1997-2002
Welcome to Mali	2008	Because Records
Paris Bamako	2005	Because Records	DVD & CD live
1990-1995: L'intégrale des années maliennes	2005	Because Records	5CD box
Je pense à toi (longbox)	2005	Emarcy	3CD longbox
1990-1995: le meilleur des années maliennes	2005	Because Records	Compilation of songs recorded in Africa
Je pense à toi	2005	Emarcy	Best of compilation CD
Dimanche à Bamako	2004	Because Records	Album produced by Manu Chao
Wati	2002	Universal Music Jazz
Tje Ni Mousso	1999	Verve
Se Te Djon Ye	1998	Sonodisc CDS 7044
Sou ni Tilé	1998	Emarcy 557118-2	(Polygram)
Couple Aveugle du Mali, vol.5	1993	Maikano MAILPS 1073	Cassette
Couple Aveugle du Mali, vol.4		Maikano MAILPS 1053	Cassette
Couple Aveugle du Mali, vol.3	1991	Maikano MAILPS 1051	Cassette
Couple Aveugle du Mali, vol.2		Maikano MAILPS 1048	Cassette
Couple Aveugle du Mali, vol.1	1989	Maikano MAILPS 1047	Cassette

Back to Frank Bessem's Musiques du Mali

Copyright © 1998-2009 Frank Bessem