African Saxophone Legend, Manu Dibango dies Of Coronavirus at 86. The Cameroonian musician celebrated for his blend of jazz, funk, and traditional West African styles dies in Paris after catching coronavirus. He is aged 86.
A statement on his official Facebook page announced the sad news of his death, saying: “It is with deep sadness that we announce you the loss of Manu Dibango, our Papy Groove.” The message continued, “His funeral service will be held in strict privacy, and a tribute to his memory will be organized when possible.”
Meanwhile, the statement urged supporters to send condolences via email as a measure to contain the ongoing coronavirus crisis.
Dibango, born in 1933, in the city of Douala, Cameroon, at the time of French colonial rule, his musical career reigned across more than six decades. He obtained high school education in France, where he began learning musical instruments. First, the piano and then saxophone, with which he was popularly known.
As he sailed through in his musical career, he moved to Brussels and toured Europe with African Jazz under bandleader, Joseph Kabasele. He further spent some time in Congo and Cameroon before returning in 1965 to Paris.
Meanwhile, Dibango’s music was a blend of the cosmopolitan styles from Africa and Europe, which resulted in his biggest hit, Soul Makossa. The song was initially written for the 1972 African Cup of Nations football tournament.
In 2009, Dibango took pop legend Michael Jackson to court claiming Jackson, lifted a hook from his song Soul Makossa for two songs on Jackson’s world’s best-selling album, Thriller. MJ settled the case out of court. Also, the line “mama-say, mama-sa, ma-makossa” from Michael Jackson’s “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’” was lifted from Dibango’s chorus on Soul Makossa – Dibango sued Jackson over the uncredited interpolation, winning an out of court settlement.
Manu Dibango collaborated with notable stars such as South Africa’s Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Nigeria’s Fela Kuti, America’s Herbie Hancock, and many more.
Artists all over the are paying tribute to the legend. Here is a tweet from Angelique Kidjo;
Verified
Dear #ManuDibango, you’ve always been there for me from my beginnings in Paris to this rehearsal just 2 months ago! You re the original Giant of African Music and a beautiful human being. This coda of #SoulMakossa is for you! pic.twitter.com/3pGoICwjCn— Angelique Kidjo (@angeliquekidjo) March 24, 2020
Rest on, African legend!
