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

Masiteladi
Amadou & Mariam Lyrics

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Tu peux aller, le chemin est libre
Tu peux bouger, la vie est si belle
Tu peux aller, le chemin est libre

Tu as perdu ton boulot dans cette vie la
Massi téladi
Ta femme t'as quitté à cause de ça là
Massi téladi

Tu as perdu ta famille dans cette vie la
Massi téladi

Eh, tes amis t'on quitté à cause de ça là
Massi téladi, massi téladi
La vie est est une école
Tu ne peux pas rester, tu ne peux pas rester
Dans cette vie là, il faut te racheter

Tu peux aller, le chemin est libre
Tu peux bouger, la vie est si belle
Tu peux aller, le chemin est libre
Tu peux bouger, la vie est si belle

I ka fourou douman tiyan na fêmi kosson
Massi téladi
I ka kanou douman tiyana na fêmi kosson
Massi téladi
I ka baden ya douman tiyana fêmi kosson
Massi téladi

I ka sindjiya douma tiyana fêmi kosson
Massi téladi, massi téladi
La vie est est une école
Tu ne peux pas rester, tu ne peux pas rester
Dans cette vie là, il faut te racheter

Ni ya gnagami massi ta gnanabo
Tu as perdu ton boulot dans cette vie la
Ni ya féréké massi ta gnan-nabo
Ta femme t'as quitté à cause de ça la
Ni ya gnougouba massi ta gnan-nabo
Tu as perdu ta famille dans cette vie la
Ni ya gnagami massi ta gnanabo

Tu peux aller, le chemin est libre
Tu peux bouger, la vie est si belle

Overall Meaning

The song "Masiteladi" by Amadou & Mariam is an ode to perseverance in the face of difficult circumstances. The lyrics are both empowering and heartbreaking as they describe the challenges of someone who has lost their job, their partner, and their family in life. The refrain "Massi téladi" means "Do not be discouraged" in Bambara, a West African language, and serves as a reminder to keep moving forward despite hardships.

The song paints a picture of a person who has lost everything and is on the verge of losing hope. They have been abandoned by their friends and family, and they have no source of income. Despite their situation, the song encourages the listener to not give up and to continue on the journey of life. The lines "La vie est une école / Tu ne peux pas rester" ("Life is a school / You cannot stay") suggest that life is a learning experience and that adversity is a part of the curriculum.

Overall, "Masiteladi" is a powerful anthem of resilience that encourages listeners to keep moving forward in the face of hardship.

Line by Line Meaning

Tu peux aller, le chemin est libre
You have the freedom to move forward and pursue your goals

Tu peux bouger, la vie est si belle
Life is beautiful and full of opportunities to explore and enjoy

Tu as perdu ton boulot dans cette vie la
You have lost your job in this life

Massi téladi
But it's not the end of the road

Ta femme t'as quitté à cause de ça là
Your wife left you because of this

Tu as perdu ta famille dans cette vie la
You have lost your family in this life

Eh, tes amis t'on quitté à cause de ça là
Your friends have left you because of this

La vie est est une école
Life is a school

Tu ne peux pas rester, tu ne peux pas rester
You cannot stay stagnant

Dans cette vie là, il faut te racheter
In this life, you need to redeem yourself

I ka fourou douman tiyan na fêmi kosson
You have suffered a lot in this life

I ka kanou douman tiyana na fêmi kosson
You have faced many challenges in this life

I ka baden ya douman tiyana fêmi kosson
You have endured many hardships in this life

I ka sindjiya douma tiyana fêmi kosson
You have been through a lot in this life

Ni ya gnagami massi ta gnanabo
You have experienced loss in this life

Ni ya féréké massi ta gnan-nabo
You have been abandoned in this life

Ni ya gnougouba massi ta gnan-nabo
You have lost your loved ones in this life

Lyrics © REVA SONS, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, SONY ATV MUSIC PUBLISHING FRANCE
Written by: AMADOU BAGAYOKO

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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