Amadou & Mariam (ML)

About

Also known as: Amadou & Miriam, Amadou and Mariam, Amadou et Mariam, Amadou et Miriam

Few acts have blended West African tradition with rock, blues and global influences as seamlessly as Amadou & Mariam. The Malian duo, married couple Amadou Bagayoko and Mariam Doumbia, built their sound around Amadou's ringing guitar work and Mariam's vocals, layering in Syrian violins, Cuban trumpets, Egyptian ney and Indian tablas into what they called Afro Funk. Their 2004 album Dimanche à Bamako, produced by Manu Chao, was the record that put them on the world map, winning the Victoires de la Musique and two BBC Radio 3 World Music Awards, and eventually selling over 300,000 copies in France alone. Their 2008 follow up Welcome To Mali featured collaborations with Damon Albarn and K'Naan, and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary World Music Album. "Sabali" from that record landed in Pitchfork's top 100 tracks of the year and became the most played French single worldwide in 2009. They played Coachella, Lollapalooza and Glastonbury, and even co wrote the official anthem for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Amadou passed away in April 2025, and the couple's final album together, L'Amour À La Folie, was released posthumously in October 2025.