It takes two
Magical Malian duo bid untimely farewell on final album of Afrofunk’n’roll.
By Mark Cooper.
La grande finale: Amadou & Mariam’s last album is a valedictory reminder of their powers.
Amadou & Mariam
★★★
L’amour À La Folie
BECAUSE. CD/DL
TOGETHER FOR nearly half a century since meeting at Bamako’s Institute for Blind Youth in 1976, Amadou & Mariam’s artistic and marital bond was framed for ever in Florian Chevillard’s iconic cover for 2008’s Welcome To Mali. There’s the towering figure of Amadou Bagayoko, guitar pointing skyward, and there’s Amadou Doumbia, microphone raised, both seem to be singing ecstatically. They’re back to back, framed as one, and Mariam’s head tilts backwards, mouth towards the mike, while her head nestles snugly upon Amadou’s neck. Two become one.