Mali's Amadou and Mariam Celebrate Five Decades in Music

<p>Mali’s Grammy-nominated Afro-rock sensation, Amadou and Mariam, once billed as “The Blind Couple of Mali” have had a big year this year. They recently played a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/nzdRFLVbWrs">cover of a Serge Gainsbourg song at the closing ceremony of the Paris 2024 Paralympics</a>. Go to the two-hour mark in this video to see it.</p> <p>Then, on September 6, they released a celebration of their nearly 50-year career, <em>La Vie Est Belle: The Best of Amadou and Mariam. </em>The album highlights the couple’s legacy as arguably Africa's most famous duo. From their unlikely beginnings meeting at a school for the blind in Mali, they have risen to amazing heights, paving the way for rock-oriented African acts, and working with the likes of Manu Chao, who produced their celebrated 2005 album <em>Dimanche a Bamako</em>, and French hip-hop producer Ever Mihigo, who reworked A&M’s hit “Beaux Dimanche” especially for this new collection. </p> <p>These two videos provide a taste of the timeless music on this landmark release.</p><figure><iframe loading="lazy" width="500" height="281" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/HXpFIGhRHP0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure><br><figure><iframe loading="lazy" width="500" height="281" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/PdQpQFvdIp8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure> <p><br></p>