Africa has lost a music legend to the ravaging corona virus pandemic. After a brief hospital stay in Paris, France, 87-year-old Cameroonian-born musician musician and songwriter, Emmanuel N’Djoké Dibango, popularly known as Manu Dibango, has passed on.
The “Soul Makossa” creator died in Paris on Monday while on treatment after testing positive for the coronavirus. France is one of the hardest-hit European countries by the deadly virus.
The legendary saxophonist is considered one of the foremost pioneers of Afro-jazz, known for his fusion of funk with traditional Cameroonian sounds.
Dibango will be remembered for playing the saxophone and vibraphone st sold-out concerts across the world.
He was a great buddy to the Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikukapo-kuti, and was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award in Lagos at the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) in November 2016.
“Africa is in mourning for a star has just departed” says Mike Dada, AFRIMA’s Founder. “The whole world will miss him but in his music, his legacy certainly lives on,” he added.
There are currently over 1500 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Africa. The continent has since recorded 48 deaths and 144 recovery cases in the wake of the global pandemic.