Amadou Bagayoko, one half of Malian duo Amadou & Mariam, dies at 70

BAMAKO, Mali — Renowned guitarist and singer Amadou Bagayoko of Mali’s music duo Amadou & Mariam has died. He was 70.

Mali’s Minister of Culture Mamou Daffé paid tribute to the blind musician in a televised broadcast on state TV. He said that Bagayoko died Friday in the city of Bamako, his birthplace, but didn’t give further details.

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. They formed a band called Mali’s Blind Couple in 1980, making their mark locally and internationally.

Their music, which blends traditional African influences with elements of rock, blues and pop, has won them a global following. They produced over 10 award-winning albums, including France’s Grammy Awards equivalent, Victoire de la Musique, in 2005, for “Dimanche à Bamako” and again in 2013 for “Folila.” “Dimanche à 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 Grammys.

Bagayoko’s last world-class performance with Doumbia was at the closing ceremony of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

He is survived by his wife and a son, Sam, also a musician.

 

Kiss cam incident at Coldplay concert highlights the technology’s awkward history

A couple embarrassed to be caught on the big screen cuddling at a Coldplay concert in Massachusetts this week sent the Internet into a frenzy. It's not the first time kiss cams have caused mishaps at stadium events.

Tourist boat capsizes during a thunderstorm in Vietnam, leaving 34 dead

A boat carrying tourists capsized during a sudden thunderstorm in Vietnam on Saturday afternoon during a sightseeing excursion, killing 34 people.

A vehicle drove into a crowd in Los Angeles, injuring 30 people, including at least 3 critically

A vehicle rammed into a crowd of people waiting to enter a nightclub along a busy boulevard in Angeles early Saturday, injuring 30 people.

The week when crypto won big in America

Congress passed the first major crypto legislation in the U.S., marking a major milestone for the digital currency sector. And with President Trump's support, the industry plans to march on.

Trump administration ends 988 Lifeline’s special service for LGBTQ+ young people

Callers to 988 used to be able to press 3 to reach counselors specially trained to help LGBTQ+ young people. The service had been reaching 70,000 people a month.

Congo and Rwanda-backed rebels sign declaration of principles for permanent ceasefire

Congo and Rwanda-backed rebels on Saturday signed a declaration of principles in Qatar to end fighting in eastern Congo that commits them to a permanent ceasefire to be signed in one month.

More Front Page Coverage