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Amadou et Mariam
"Amadou and Mariam, the blind couple of Mali" : for years that has been their slogan. The duo produces music that mixes traditional Mali sound with rock guitars, Syrian violins, Cuban trumpets, Egyptian ney, Columbian trombones, Indian tablas and Dogon percussion. All these elements put together make an infectious mix of funky Afro-blues, punchy and pleasant to listen to. In 2004, they brought out “Dimanche à Bamako”, a collaboration with Manu Chao that went gold in France. It also bagged a “Victoires de la Musique” award 2005, a recompense for the couple’s courage and the faith put in them by the newly-born French label Because. "Amadou and Mariam, the blind couple of Mali" : for years that has been their slogan. The duo produces music that holds its ground in which the traditional Mali sound is enriched by rock guitars, Syrian violins, Cuban trumpets, Egyptian ney, Columbian trombones, Indian tablas and Dogon percussion. All these elements put together make a masterful mix of funky Afro-blues, punchy and pleasant to listen to.
It must be said that these are old timers in music, having criss-crossed the whole of West Africa before arriving in Europe.
Amadou and Mariam met at the Institute for young blind people in Bamako. Since then, they have been walking side by side, hand in hand. For them it goes without saying. A naïve and everyday romanticism which overflows in their lyrics - could love be so simple ? Well, yes - above all when riding on authentic and well-written music.
Bad luck and adversity are no strangers for them. Upon leaving the Institute they formed a group which began to be somewhat successful in Mali. But, following a series of personal circumstances, Mariam decided to leave for the Ivory Coast, taking her man with her. They played in all the concert venues around and little by little made a name for themselves. Encouraged by their success, Mariam then took her Amadou to Burkina Faso. Same story.
Famous and well-known in Africa, they finally decided to conquer Europe. After a short time in England, they arrived in Paris where they recorded their first CD "Son ni tilé", distributed by the major record label Universal. And bingo ! It was both an artistic and commercial success.
Amadou and Mariam's two further albums were both hits with an ever-increasingly large and eclectic audience. Their collaboration with Sergent Garcia in 2002 for the album "Sin Fronteras", the hauntingly beautiful hymn to solidarity "Seremos" co-written by the Malian couple, then brought them to the attention of the younger generation, immediately won over by their talent and simple sincerity. As good on stage as they are on vinyl, Amadou and Mariam's strength lies in making contemporary world music with universal appeal.
Pierre Cuny
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