Manu Dibango
Manu Dibango | |
|---|---|
Dibango in 2019 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Emmanuel N'Djoké Dibango |
| Born | 12 December 1933 Douala, French Cameroon |
| Died | 24 March 2020 (aged 86) Melun, France |
| Genres | Makossa, African rumba, afrofunk/afrobeat, jazz, traditional |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | Saxophone, vibraphone |
| Years active | 1961–2020 |
| Website | manudibango |
Emmanuel N'Djoké "Manu" Dibango (12 December 1933 – 24 March 2020) was a Cameroonian musician and songwriter who played saxophone and vibraphone. He developed a musical style fusing jazz, funk, and traditional Cameroonian music. His father was a member of the Yabassi ethnic group, while his mother was a Duala. He was best known for his 1972 single "Soul Makossa". The song has been referred to as the most sampled African song in addition Dibango, himself, as the most sampled African musician in history. He died from COVID-19 on 24 March 2020.