In the bustling streets of Bamako, Mali, Amadou Ndiaye runs his fingers over a page, deciphering the raised bumps that have become his gateway to the world. This intricate dance with the tactile writing system, braille, invented two centuries ago, has been revolutionary for many who are blind or partially sighted, granting them the potential for literacy and self-determination.
“Braille has paved the way for me,” stated Ndiaye, a dedicated social worker who lost his sight in childhood. He reflects on the skepticism surrounding the integration of visually impaired individuals: “How will someone who can’t see make their way? How will they blend into the social fabric?”
Mali, a nation of over 20 million, grapples with integrating its 170,000 blind citizens into society, as highlighted by Sightsavers, a charity focused on eye care. Growing up, Ndiaye was fortunate to enroll at a specialized institute for the blind in Mali where he embraced braille, realizing, “I can achieve what others do.” His journey led him to university, continually breaking barriers.
Braille hasn’t just aided his academic journey—it has been instrumental in exploring his passion for music, particularly the guitar. “Every touch on a string, every finger movement along the neck materializes into a vibrant note,” he remarked.
The guitar is deeply woven into Mali’s griot tradition, where storytelling intersects with melodious tunes. Inspired by artists such as Ali Farka Touré, Malian musicians have creatively fused traditional melodies with blues, crafting mesmerizing sounds recognized globally. Ndiaye’s love for the guitar took root when, as a child, he heard the music of the iconic Malian duo, Amadou and Mariam.
The duo, affectionately known as “the blind couple from Mali,” consists of Amadou Bagayoko, who lost his sight at 16, and Mariam Doumbia, blind from five due to untreated measles. Their blend of Malian rhythms with rock and blues achieved global fame in the 1990s. Doumbia and Bagayoko’s musical journey also began at Mali’s institute for the blind, where Doumbia engaged with braille while teaching music.
Places like this institute have enabled students to navigate educational hurdles, ultimately allowing them to pursue conventional exams and seek employment, according to Ali Moustapha Dicko, a blind instructor at the institution in Bamako. Using a specialized typewriter, Dicko produces braille texts for his students, though resources remain scarce.
“We face a severe shortage of educational materials,” he lamented, noting his class relies on a single braille reading book.
While technological advancements, like voice-assisted software, bring hope for overcoming educational barriers, they complement rather than replace braille, as emphasized by Bagayoko of the musical duo. “This progress helps us advance,” he acknowledged.
Moussa Mbengue, from Sightsavers in Senegal, agrees technology aids but doesn’t substitute the transformative role of braille over the past two hundred years. “Technology enhances braille,” he articulated, upholding its timeless significance.
