Malian Music Legend Amadou Bagayoko Passes Away at 70

Amadou Bagayoko, the Grammy-nominated Malian musician renowned for blending traditional West African sounds with Western rock and pop influences as one half of the duo Amadou and Mariam, has died at the age of 70. The Malian Ministry of Culture expressed its sorrow over Bagayoko passing, stating that he was a blind man who left a significant mark on both the Malian and international music scenes.



Bagayoko passed away in Bamako, his birthplace. His stepson, Youssouf Fadiga, revealed that the musician had been ill for some time, though he did not disclose the specific illness. He is survived by his wife, Mariam Doumbia, who is also a musician, and their son, Sam.



Known as �the blind couple from Mali,� Amadou and Mariam became one of Africa�s most beloved musical duos, collaborating with prominent artists such as Damon Albarn and David Gilmour. Born in 1954, Bagayoko lost his sight at the age of 15 due to a congenital cataract. He later studied music at the Institute for the Young Blind (Mali), where he met Mariam. The couple formed their band, Malis Blind Couple, in 1980, initially focusing on raising awareness about the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities. Their unique fusion of traditional African music with rock, blues, and pop garnered them a global audience.



Over their career, they released more than ten award-winning albums, including Dimanche a Bamako, which won France�s Victoire de la Musique in 2005 and a BBC Radio Award for World Music in 2006. Their 2008 album, Welcome to Mali, received a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary World Music Album.



Bagayoko and Doumbia opened for Coldplay in 2009 and performed at the Nobel Peace Prize concert that year. Manu Chao, who produced Dimanche a Bamako, shared his condolences online, emphasizing their enduring connection. Senegalese artist Youssou N Dour also expressed his heartfelt thoughts for Mariam during this difficult time.

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The Southern African Development Community (SADC), in collaboration with the Malawi Defense Forces, organized a comprehensive 5-day training program from March 10-14, 2025, in Lilongwe, Malawi. The initiative aimed to strengthen pre-deployment preparedness for Malawi�s military, police, corrections officers, and civilian personnel in Peace Support Operations (PSOs). Topics included defining and understanding sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), implementing preventative measures, ensuring victim support while maintaining confidentiality, and exploring collaborative roles to align with human rights and international standards.