African music misplaced one in every of his titans final week with the demise of Amadu Bagioko, a guitarist who recorded American rock stars, carried out on the Nobel live performance for Barack Obama and have become a nationwide icon at his house Mali.
Together with his spouse, singer Mariam Dumbia, G -N -Bagyoko, composed the duo Amadou & Mariam, who rose to worldwide glory in 2000 and 2010 with hits like “Beautiful Sunday.”
Mr. Bagayoko was 70 when He died last weekof problems of malaria an infection. He and his spouse, who’s 66 years previous, needed to carry out all through Europe subsequent month. And whereas their fame has light in the USA from the height of their international success, they continue to be large celebrities in Europe and West Africa, the place their music has impressed generations of artists.
We requested relations and pals of G -N -Bagayoko about their favourite songs by Amadou & Mariam and the significance of the guitarist and his music – a mix of blues reefs, guitar solos and djembe – to them.
“Tubala Kono”
Cheick Tidiane Secck, a keyboard participant who knew Bagayoko, because the guitarist was 14 years previous, was within the close by elephant shore for a live performance final week when Mr. Bagayko died.
D, Seck opened the live performance with Tubala Kono, a music he wrote with Mr. Bagayoko, whom he referred to as “Brother.”
However he could not end to carry out it, he mentioned in an interview, including, “I might collapse.”
Solely with a reserve, resolving guitar that makes round reefs, the music revolves across the loneliness, the sensation that Mr. Sek mentioned he pursued him after the demise of his buddy.
“Mogoya”
Sam Bagayoko is the one one of many three kids of G -n Bagiyoko and the dumbbell who’ve accepted a music profession. He had toured his dad and mom and was in Paris to arrange their deliberate concert events in France this summer season when Mr. Bagayoko died.
His dad and mom have been happy with how their songs proceed to draw for the youthful generations, he mentioned in a phone interview from Bamaco, the capital of Mali and the house of the household the place guests come this week to pay tribute.
His favourite music is “Mogoya”, which he made up for his dad and mom to carry out with him. Within the music, he performs the guitar along with his father whereas his mom sings for on a regular basis life in Mali and guarantees that folks usually fail to protect.
“It was all the time an honor to play with my dad and mom, but it surely was our final cooperation collectively,” Sam, who’s 45 years previous. “I’ll by no means see or hear my father’s guitar once more.”
“I consider you”
Idisa Sumoro, a well known musician and singer in Mali, met with Mr. Bagiyoko in 1973, when he joined the Les Ambassadeurs Du Motel de Bamako on the age of 19.
He shortly noticed that “Amadu is vivid and impressive,” he mentioned.
Later, throughout this decade, Sumoro has educated G -n Bagyoko and d -dumbia on the Nationwide College of Blind of Malian, the place they deepened their friendship. (G -n Bagayoko was blind as his spouse.)
On the college, the Sumoro mentioned that they’d take heed to blues for hours in a rehearsal room engaged on tonalities in what a sumo referred to as “analysis work, as I’ve by no means performed with one other musician.”
G -N Sumoo selected “I consider you”, a love music that the duo launched in 2005, saying that the couple’s love “can be a part of their success.”
“In it, Amadu sings,” I consider you, do not go away me, “mentioned Mr. Sumoro, who’s 75 years previous.” He would not abandon her, however the unhappy actuality is that he left her. “
He added, “I hope Mariam may have the energy to bear life.”
