African jazz legend, Manu Dibango has died from a coronavirus infection. This is according to a statement on his official Facebook page on Tuesday.
The 86-year-old Cameroonian died earlier today, Tuesday, in the Paris region of France, his management team representative Thierry Durepaire said.
“Dear family, dear friends, dear fans, a voice raises from far away. It’s with deep sadness that we announce the loss of Manu Dibango, our Papy Groove, who passed away on 24th of March 2020, at 86 years old, further to COVID-19. His funeral service will be held in privacy, and a tribute to his memory will be organised when possible,” a message posted on his facebook page said.
Late Dibango arrived in France in 1950, and studied jazz and saxophone in the northern city if Reims, where he started playing in clubs, according to a biography on his social media.
In the early 1960s, his style of playing took on more African rhythms, he however, he collaborated with Brussel-based musicians from Congo and then began touring Africa, developing is trademark.
He also collaborated with many other musicians, including Fania All-Star, Fela Kuti, Herbie Hancock, King Sunny Ade, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Don Cherry, and Sly and Robbie and a whole lot of others.
However, his biggest hit came in 1972 when he had a major hit with Soul Makossa a song that brought him international success and was interpreted by many other artistes.
Few days ago EElive reported a similar death case in the Jazz world. Marcelo Peralta an Argentine saxophonist died after he contracted the deadly coronavirus disease.