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They have proven unequivocally that with their exceptional blend of African themes with rock, pop and jazz, age and disability are no barrier to the music business if you have the right sound. Renowned for their captivating live performances, they have many fans and their albums sell briskly all over the world.

Amadou and Mariam flit between France and Mali, but they don’t just churn out uplifting, toe-tapping musical gems; they also use their status to raise awareness of blindness issues and other problems facing people in their African homeland.

In the week in which their latest album, Welcome to Mali, is released - featuring a musical collaboration with Blur's - we wondered what makes this gentle couple tick.

The two speak French, so in a busy office and on a very tight schedule, their manager translated our 13 Questions. They appeared to discuss every answer, but it was Amadou who did most of the talking.

Amadou and Mariam flit between France and Mali, but they don’t just churn out uplifting, toe-tapping musical gems, they also use their status to raise awareness of blindness issues and other problems facing people in their African homeland.

In the week their latest album, Welcome to Mali is released, featuring a musical collaboration with Britain's Damon Albarn, we wondered what makes this gentle couple tick.

The two speak French, so in a busy office, on a very tight schedule, their manager translated our 13 questions. They appeared to discuss every answer, but it was Amadou who did most of the talking.

Promotion. It’s the most important thing for us at the moment. We have been very busy with radio shows and interviews. We like it. It is part of our job to inform people of what we are doing and what we think.

Courageous. They admire us for what we are able to do in regards to our disability. We made the effort to come to another country and to get people to work with us. We knew nobody. The people in the band we used to work with at the blind school were not as lucky as us.

Conflicts. Between nations, but mainly between people. Especially those close to us. Having conflict around us doesn’t make us feel happy.

Mariam: We can take care of a family.
Amadou: They don’t know that we are working on subjects other than music. We are ambassadors for Sight Savers International and Water Aid.

The fight against piracy. Before we release a CD in Africa, it is already in the markets. This is mainly an organisational problem. The Laws are there but they are not applied. I’m president of the Artists’ Federation and president of the Musician’s Union in Mali.

The psychology of people. We are very good at getting people together. If there is a problem in the family, we are good advisors.

Stevie Wonder. We had the chance to meet him once. We admired him for his music before we knew he was blind.

Amadou: The radio. News, music, just even to have a radio on in the room. It’s like a presence.
Mariam: Being able to arrange my cupboards the way I want them.

Canada. We understand the people. They are very sweet and nice.

We didn’t have jobs before music. I was a guitarist and Mariam a singer, but in '76 we played together for the first time. We got well paid and knew we would do it again. That was at the beginning of our relationship.

We encourage them to make the effort and to work hard.

Can seem difficult, but we see it as a chance to bring people together. It comes naturally to us. It’s a gift.

• Catch Amadou and Mariam on , Friday 21st November, ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ 2, 11.35pm.