Amadou & Mariam, a blind married couple, were already well-established musicians, both in their home country of Mali and in France, when crossover artist Manu Chao approached them in 2004, wanting to produce their next record Dimanche à Bamako. The film follows the recording sessions and their work in the studio, providing an exciting insight into the co-operative effort between the three.

We also get to know the duo and life in Mali better, both through seeing them in concert and interviews with friends and various cultural personalities. Amadou & Mariam’s eclectic Afro blues is central to the film, together with the lyrics, which cover everything from politics to partying. Rather than a narrative documentary, Dimanche à Bamako is a fragmentary and atmospheric journey through Amadou & Mariam’s world. rfa

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