Renowned guitarist and singer Amadou Bagayoko of Mali’s music duo Amadou & Mariam has died at the age of 70.

The Grammy-nominated musician, who went blind when he was 15 because of a congenital cataract, died after a long battle with illness, his son-in-law confirmed on Friday. 

Youssouf Fadiga told Agence-France Presse: ‘He had been ill for a while,’

The band’s manager, Yannick Tardy, added that Amadou had been taken into hospital feeling drained on Friday, and died later that day.

Confirming the musician’s death to AFP, the Malian culture minister, Mamou Daffé, shared that Amadou died in the city of Bamako, his birthplace, but didn’t give further details.

He studied music at Mali´s Insтιтute for the Young Blind where he met his wife Mariam Doumbia. 

Renowned guitarist and singer Amadou Bagayoko of Mali’s music duo Amadou & Mariam has died at the age of 70 (pictured at Glastonbury in 2023)

After meeting in 1976, when Amadou was 21 and Mariam 18, the pair discovered they had similar tastes in music

After meeting in 1976, when Amadou was 21 and Mariam 18, the pair discovered they had similar tastes in music.

The couple formed their band Mali´s Blind Couple in 1980, making their mark locally and internationally.

Tributes poured in for the musician, with one fan penning: ‘Rip Amadou Bagayoko thanks for some great live experiences’;

‘Very sad to hear about the death of Amadou Bagayoko – a lovely man and a magical guitarist. 

‘It was an immense privilege to spend time with this great musician at shows and on trips in both Africa and Europe over the years. RIP Amadou.’

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 music, which blends traditional African influences with elements of rock, blues and pop, has won them a global following (pictured performing in Paris in 2021)

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 (pictured at Cannes Film Festival in 2017)

Tributes poured in for the musician, with one fan penning: ‘Rip Amadou Bagayoko thanks for some great live experiences’

Their 2008 album Welcome to Mali was nominated for Best Contemporary World Music Album at the Grammys.

They played at festivals including Glastonbury, and played for Barack Obama at the concert marking the US president’s Nobel Peace prize award.

Amadou told AFP in a 2024 interview: ‘There were many musicians, many artists there. And Barack Obama came to meet us,’

‘We talked a bit. Barack Obama told us that he liked our music. Malian music, too. We were very, very happy,’ Mariam added.

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

Amadou Bagayoko is survived by three children.