"We never plan it ourselves, but when an opportunity does come up [to collaborate with other artists] we will work with anyone. Our door is always open."
Amadou & Mariam were a blind musical duo from Mali, composed of Bamako-born Amadou Bagayoko and Mariam Doumbia (vocals). As well as being a musical duo, they were a married couple.
"I was already singing by the time I was six years old. My neighbors would ask me to sing at festivities—marriages, baptisms, etc.—and they would give me presents. In 1973 [when I was 15], I went to the Institute for the Young Blind in Mali to learn Braille. When I was there I taught other people how to sing and dance."
"No, there aren’t any musicians in my family; I’m the only one who sings."