Amadou Bagayoko (1954–2025) was a celebrated Malian guitarist and singer, best known as one half of the duo Amadou & Mariam. Born in Bamako, he lost his sight at 15 due to a congenital cataract. At the Institute for the Young Blind, he met Mariam Doumbia, his future wife and musical partner. Together, they fused traditional West African sounds with rock, blues, and pop, achieving international acclaim. Their 2004 album "Dimanche à Bamako" won France's Victoire de la Musique award, and "Welcome to Mali" (2008) earned a Grammy nomination. They performed globally, including at the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize concert and the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games closing ceremony. ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/iconic-malian-musician-amadou-bagayoko-amadou-mariam-dies-70-2025-04-05/?utm_source=openai))