It takes nearly an entire day to fly from Birmingham, Alabama to Bamako, Mali, but the two distinct, yet related, musical worlds can be heard on a single stage. Renowned Malian musicians, Amadou + Mariam and Birmingham’s The Blind Boys of Alabama have teamed up for a world tour that joyfully combines lilting, danceable Afro-pop and Malian traditions with the heartfelt gospel sounds of the American South.
Amadou + Mariam are considered the de facto ambassadors of African music and have shared their uplifting music with the world for over 40 years. They are festival favorites and their collaborations with artists such as Damon Albern, Santigold, TV on the Radio and others have lent a fresh and youthful vibe to their beautiful compositions. Malian blues and the couple’s keen pop sensibilities combine for their distinct, worldly sound.
The Blind Boys of Alabama are an American institution. Together since the 1930s (original member Jimmy Carter now leads the group, having taken over from the late Clarence Fountain in 2017), the group brought gospel into the mainstream by not only introducing music lovers to jubilee and hard gospel, but by giving more secular, modern tunes their deeply spiritual treatment. With skin-tingling harmonies and songs of faith delivered straight from the heart, The Blind Boys spread the good word with fervent sincerity.
What these two acts have in common — besides their huge respective fan bases — is that they are blind. Rather than have the loss of eyesight be a barrier, blindness has, instead, graced each of these astounding musicians with strength and courage. According to Jimmy Carter, it’s all about the music.
“All we wanted to do was to get out there and sing gospel music, and just tell the people about God,” told the Washington Post. “We weren’t looking for no accolades. Nothing like that. We were glad when we got them. But we weren’t looking for them.”
This will be a show for the ages.
