The world renowned, international duo, Amadou & Mariam, have just dropped a new song called “Boufu Safou.” Amadou Bagayoko and Mariam Doumbia are a Grammy-nominated pair from Mali, a country in West Africa, with a very unique and beautiful origin.

The two first met as children at Mali’s Institute for the Young Blind. They both lost their sight at young ages. Amadou lost his sight at age 16 and Mariam lost her sight at age 5 as a result from untreated measles. They both performed at the Institute’s Eclipse Orchestra and shared the same passion for music. The couple married in 1980 and by 1983 they began recording with each other. Over three decades, the couple recorded 8 full-length albums and toured all around the world. Their album, Welcome to Mali released in 2008, was nominated for “Best Contemporary World Music Album” at the 52nd Grammy Awards. They have performed with U2, Coldplay, Blur and their hero, Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour, just to name a few.

The duo focuses on experimental fusion of different genres. Their new song “Boufu Safou” as an example, they love to fuse their Malian Afrobeat roots with funk and disco influences. In “Boufu Safou” they create a catchy, synth beat with Doumbia’s beautiful, emotion-filled vocals that makes it hard not to dance along with. The song is filled with vibes of joy and love, as if you can feel the duo having a blast recording it. The term “boufu safou” is a bambara (Malian National language) nickname given to nonchalant young men who would rather dance than work.

This summer, the couple will go on their first major market North American headline in four years with stops in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Washington D.C, Philadelphia, and many more. They are also close to releasing a brand new album of music, titled La Confusion, slated to release later in 2017. If the upcoming album and tour are anything like their new song, they should be a hit. Check out the new song, their tour dates and the tracklist for their new mixtape below.

AMADOU & MARIAM LIVE
July 13—Montreal, QC—Festival Internacional Nuits d’Afrique
July 14—Quebec, QC—Festival D’été de Quebec
July 15—Northampton, MA—Green River Festival
July 20—Washington, DC—9:30 Club
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 30—Telluride, CO—Sheridan Opera House
August 2—Tucson, AZ—Rialto Theater
August 4—Los Angeles, CA—The Fonda Theatre
August 5—Santa Cruz, CA—Catalyst
August 9 & 10—Seattle, WA—Triple Door

THE BOFOU SAFOU MIXTAPE TRACK LIST
1. Ya La (Oumou Sangare)
2. Biguine inferno (O.R.E.A)
3. Kognokoura (Niama Makalou & African Soul Band)
4. Ta Lassa (International Soleil Band)
5. Delirium (Francine McGee)
6. Oba Oyebade Lipede – James Stewart & Chylorama Edit (Shina Adewale)
7. Body & Soul – Justin Strauss & Bryan Mette Whatever Remix (William Onyeabor)
8. Bissao – Pilooski Edit (Francis Bebey)
9.  Pour la vie ft. Pat Kalla (Voilaaa)
10. Delectation (Livy Ekemezie)
11. Bazouka (Eric Cosaque)
12. Empuja Empuja (Nina Emilia)
13. Mbongo Mokosi (Pablo Lubadika Porthos)
14. Courougnegne  – Ledoux Records (Mory Kanté)
15. Dyana (Amadou & Mariam)