Amadou and Mariam are a musical duo from Mali, composed of the couple Maria… Read Full Bio ↴Amadou and Mariam are a musical duo from Mali, composed of the couple Mariam Doumbia (vocals) (born in Mali's capital Bamako 15 April 1958) and Amadou Bagayoko (guitar and vocals) (born in Bamako 24 October 1954). The pair, known as "the blind couple from Mali" met at Mali's Institute for the Young Blind, and found they shared an interest in music.

The duo produces music that mixes traditional Mali sound with rock guitars, Syrian violins, Cuban trumpets, Egyptian ney, Colombian trombones, Indian tablas and Dogon percussion. All these elements put together have been referred to as "Afro-blues".

In 2004 they put out an acclaimed album produced by Manu Chao.

In 2006 they were acknowledged with BBC Radio 3 Awards for World Music in the two categories: Africa and Album of the Year (for the "Dimanche à Bamako" release).

www.amadou-mariam.com

Fantani
Amadou & Mariam Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

"Le pauvre angoisse jour et nuit,
Il s′endette pour rembourser ses dettes"
Miri djougou fara, miri djougou kandé
Hami djougou fara, hami djougou kandé
Gnani djougou fara, gnani djougou kandé
Do wèrè béban, do wèrè bé dabo
Fantani séguin nédo
Djourou djougou fara, djourou djougou kandé

Dobé sara dowèrè bé ta toun
Bolo kolon séguin nédo
Fantani gnaniné

Fantani séguinné
Bolo kolon séguin nédo

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Amadou & Mariam's song Fantani convey a story of a poor man who is constantly distressed and struggling to pay off his debts. He lives in a society where debt has become a way of life, and the pressure of financial strain is palpable. The repetition of the phrases "miri djougou fara, miri djougou kandé, hami djougou fara, hami djougou kandé, gnani djougou fara, gnani djougou kandé" highlights the prevalence of debt and the shared experience of hardship among the people. The lyrics suggest that this poor man has no way out of this endless cycle of debt and the burden of paying it off consumes him day and night.

The chorus of the song, "Do wèrè béban, do wèrè bé dabo, Fantani séguin nédo, Bolo kolon séguin nédo" can be interpreted as a plea for a better future, one where people are not shackled by financial burdens. The words "Fantani" and "Bolo kolon" could be symbolic of this better future, like a beacon of hope. The repeated use of the word "nédo" in the chorus, meaning "it will come," suggests that there is still hope for a brighter tomorrow.

Overall, the lyrics of Fantani paint a poignant picture of a society ridden with debt and financial strain, and the yearning for a life free from this burden.

Line by Line Meaning

Le pauvre angoisse jour et nuit,
The poor man worries day and night,

Il s′endette pour rembourser ses dettes
He gets into debt to pay off his debts

Miri djougou fara, miri djougou kandé
The village of Miri struggles with poverty and hardship

Hami djougou fara, hami djougou kandé
The village of Hami faces similar struggles and challenges

Gnani djougou fara, gnani djougou kandé
The village of Gnani also experiences poverty and adversity

Do wèrè béban, do wèrè bé dabo
Despite their differences, they all share a common struggle

Fantani séguin nédo
The river Fantani flows through these villages

Djourou djougou fara, djourou djougou kandé
The village of Djourou also battles poverty and hardship

Dobé sara dowèrè bé ta toun
Everybody is trying their best to move forward and improve their lives

Bolo kolon séguin nédo
The river Bolo Kolon also runs through these communities

Fantani gnaniné
The river Fantani is a source of hope and sustenance