On 4 April, Amadou Bagayoko died suddenly, aged 70, in Bamako, Mali. The country’s ministry of culture announced the news. Thousands attended the funeral, including former collaborators Manu Chao and Youssou N’Dour, all paying homage to a man they knew as an uncle, a blues-guitar giant, a leader, a friend.
“I miss him so much,” says Mariam Doumbia, his wife and musical partner of 44 years in the duo Amadou and Mariam. “We did everything together. We travelled together. We composed together. The sound of his guitar is always between my two ears. Especially at night, it comes into my mind. Even right now, I just heard it.”
Dressed with characteristic verve in white lace, gold jewellery and black shades, Doumbia is on a video call, to discuss, in French,…