Hailing from Mali, Amadou Bagayoko and Mariam Doumbia first met as children at Mali’s Institute for the Young Blind—both lost their vision at an early age. It was here that they started performing in the institute’s Eclipse Orchestra, eventually marrying and began recording together in the ‘80s.

Over the span of three decades Amadou (guitar and vocals) and Mariam (vocals) developed an international following having recorded eight full-length albums and toured around the world. Their album Welcome To Mali (2008) was nominated for the “Best Contemporary World Music Album” at the 52nd Grammy Awards. Tour highlights for the duo include supporting U2 on their U2 360 Tour, performing at the 2010 World Cup for FIFA’s Kick-Off Celebration and performing alongside major acts across multiple genres such including Blur, Coldplay and Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour.

The album also includes the hit single “Bofou Safou,” which Stereogum calls “the funk, the whole funk, and nothing but the funk.” The band discussed La Confusion and performed new music on a recent stop at KCRW’s “Morning Becomes Eclectic” during their recent sold out North American seventeen city headline tour — watch HERE. The band played major markets including New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Montreal.

Amadou & Mariam recently released the Bofou Safou EP via Because Music. The EP includes the first two La Confusion singles, “Bofou Safou” and “Filaou Bessame,” alongside remixes of the EP’s title track by Fatima Yamaha, Africaine 808, Henrik Schwarz and more. The term “bofou safou” is a Bambara (the Malian national language) nickname given to nonchalant young men who would rather dance than work. Of the new EP, the group notes, “We really like the remixes that were made for the EP. You get to hear our music in a different form, which is great. All five remixes manage to catch the essence of our song while really pushing those enticing afro pop and electronic vibes further.”