Alongside “Filaou Bessame,” the album also includes the hit single “Bofou Safou,” which Stereogum calls “the funk, the whole funk, and nothing but the funk.” This summer the pair will embark on their first major market North American headlining tour in four years with stops in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Montreal and more. See below for a full tour itinerary.

 

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.”

 

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.

 

July 13—Montreal, QC—Festival International Nuits d’Afrique
July 14—Quebec, QC—Festival d’été de Québec
July 15—Northampton, MA—Green River Festival

July 16—Schenectady, NY—Music Haven Concert Series 
July 20—Washington, DC—9:30 Club

July 21— Brooklyn, NY— Celebrate Brooklyn
July 22—Philadelphia, PA—World Café Live
July 24—Chicago, IL—Millennium Park
July 27—Minneapolis, MN—Cedar Cultural Center
July 29—Boulder, CO—Boulder Theater

July 31—Phoenix, AZ—Musical Instrument Museum
August 2—Tucson, AZ—Rialto Theater
August 4—Los Angeles, CA—El Rey Theatre
August 5—Santa Cruz, CA—The Catalyst

August 6—San Francisco, CA—Sigmund Stern Grove 
August 9 & 10—Seattle, WA—Triple Door

August 11—Tidewater, OR—Sacred Art & Music Festival
August 13—Edmonton, ALB Canada—Edmonton Folk Music Festival