African music lost one of his titans last week with the death of Amadou Bagayoko, a guitarist who recorded with American rock stars, performed at the Barack Obama Nobel Prize concert and became a national icon in his home, Mali.
With his wife, singer Mariam Doumbia, Mr. Bagayoko composed the duo Amadou and Mariam, who increased international fame in the 2000s and 2010 « Beautiful Sundays ».
Bagayoko was 70 years old when Died last weekof complications of a malaria infection. He and his wife, 66, were planning to perform throughout Europe next month. And while his fame has faded in the United States from the peak of his global success, they remained huge celebrities in Europe and West Africa, where its music inspired generations of artists.
We asked Mr. Bagayoko’s family and friends for his favorite songs by Amadou and Mariam, and the importance of guitarist and his music, a combination of blues riffs, guitar solos and djembe.
“Toubala Kono”
Cheick Tidiane Seck, a key player who met Mr. Bagayoko since the guitarist was 14 years old, was on the neighboring Ivory Coast for a concert last week when Mr. Bagayoko died.
Mr. Seck opened the concert with « Toubala Kono », a song he wrote with Mr. Bagayoko, whom he called « brother ».
But he couldn’t finish him, he said in an interview and added, « I would have collapsed. »
With just a spare, reverberating guitar making circular riffs, the song revolves around solitude, the feeling that Mr. Secck said he had stormed him since the death of his friend.
‘Mogoya’
Sam Bagayoko is the only three children of Mr. Bagayoko and Mrs. Doumbia who adopted a musical career. He had turned with his parents and was in Paris to organize his concerts scheduled for France this summer when Mr. Bagayoko died.
His parents were especially proud of how his songs continued to appeal to the younger generations, he said in a telephone interview with Bamako, the capital of Mali and the family house, where visitors came this week to pay tribute.
His favorite song is « Mogoya », which composed for his parents to perform with him. In the song, he plays the guitar with his father as his mother sings about daily life in Mali and promises that people often do not keep.
« It was always an honor to play with my parents, but this was our last collaboration together, » said Sam, who is 45 years old. « I will no longer see or listen to my father’s guitar. »
« I think of you »
Idrissa Soumaoro, a well -known Mali musician and singer, met Mr. Bagayoko in 1973, when the Bamako Motel Ambassadeurs in the 19th anniversary joined the band.
He quickly saw that « Amadou was bright and ambitious, » he said.
Later in that decade, Mr. Soumaoro formed Mr. Bagayoko and Mrs. Doumbia at a Malian National School for blind people, where they deepened their friendship. (Mr. Bagayoko was blind, as well as his wife.)
At school, said Mr Soumaoro, who would listen to the blues for hours in a rehearsal room, working in shades in what Mr Soumaoro called « research work as I have never done with any other musician. »
Soumaoro chose « I Think On You », a love song that the duo published in 2005, saying that the couple’s love « was also part of their success. »
« In this, Amadou sings, » I think of you, do not leave me, « said Mr. Soumaoro, who is 75 years old. » He did not abandon her, but the sad reality is that he has left her. «
He added: « I hope Mariam has the strength to endure life. »
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