There are few live experiences more joyous and irresistible than an Amadou & Mariam show with its innately danceable rhythms, featuring Amadou Bagayoko’s utterly funky guitar and Mariam Doumbia’s soulful mantras. The couple have been making music together since meeting as teenagers at Mali’s Institute For The Young Blind and joining that school’s orchestra. As a duo, they first enjoyed success throughout West Africa in the 80s before moving to Paris, plugging into the city’s pulsing musical diaspora and expanding their Malian blues sound to include elements of rock, reggae and funk.

Their 2004 Manu Chao-produced album Dimanche à Bamako was their calling card to the rest of the world, while 2008’s Welcome To Mali sealed the deal, with support slots for Blur, Coldplay and U2 following. In 2011, they played a series of headline concerts with auditoriums plunged into complete darkness to convey something of the sensory experience the couple have around music, with the hope of sharpening other senses in the audience. But latest single ‘Mogolu’, their first new music since 2017, is flooded with the bright light of their native Bamako.

‘Mogolu means “people” in Bambara,’ they explain over email. ‘The song is about people and travelling. We travel a lot and meet a lot of people, create new experiences in life and, at the same time, share our experiences with everyone. Travelling, regardless of the means of transport you use, makes you live new experiences, grow and keep on learning.’

Keeping with the travel theme, the couple have teased their single with the strapline ‘let the journey begin’ and confirm more music is pending. Forthcoming album La Vie Est Belle, slated for an autumn release, will feature a mix of greatest hits and exclusive material, marking a half-century of music-making for the couple. ‘“Mogolu” is the very first taste. We can’t say much more yet as we’re working hard to bring great music this year, but we are travelling to new sounds.’

The pair remain tight-lipped about what those new sounds might involve. When asked what they’re listening to right now, they reply ‘when we are at home we listen to the radio a lot, so we listen to any new hit popping at the radio. We also have loads of traditional music that we bring from home. We listen to the news as well, to be connected and learn what is happening to the world.’

Amadou & Mariam will soon be back in their natural environment, communing with a live audience. ‘For us it is fundamental, almost as essential as water or food, to be able to perform live in order to feel the energy of an audience.’ First on their summer schedule is a headline slot at Eden Festival in Moffat alongside the likes of Mr Scruff, LTJ Bukem and psych-pop veterans The Zombies.

‘We are very excited indeed! We have been many times to Scotland with our own project and with The Blind Boys Of Alabama. This time is special, as we will be performing “Mogolu” live and other great classics of our career. Finally, we are back to the live shows, which is what we enjoy the most because we have direct contact with the audience. We feel the energy and that is what keeps us full of strength: sharing our music, transmitting our message and feeling people vibrate, sing and enjoy with us. It is a very special union.’
Amadou & Mariam play Eden Festival, Moffat, Saturday 15 June, and Migration Matters Festival, Sheffield, Monday 17June.