Listen – Jazz and Conversations Tribute to the African Jazz Icon, the late Manu Dibango (1934 – 2020)

On Tuesday 24th March 2020, Cameroonian -born African Jazz Legend & Icon, Emmanuel N’Djoké “Manu” Dibango aged 86, tragically passed away in a Paris hospital, a victim of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. His legacy? Nearly 200 music projects including releasing almost 80 solo albums over a 50-year period from 1969 to 2019. In 1972 he released the track “Soul Makossa” (originally recorded in Lagos, Nigeria). This catapulted Manu Dibango onto the world stage, where he stayed, serenading audiences with his inimitable mastery of the sax, and his melodic soulful baritone vocal chants.. He was a committed ambassador for the continent, working with everyone at home and abroad, from Fela, Hugh Masekela, Youssou N’dour, Angelique Kidjo, Salif Keita, to Herbie Hancock, Peter Gabriel and many more… He famously said “Your’e not a musician because your’e African. Your’e a musician because you are a musician. Coming from Africa, but first, you are a musician”. Adieu Papy Groove. Till we meet again