Manu Dibango, the afro-jazz great behind hits including “Soul Makossa,” died Tuesday morning (March 24) from COVID-19, the BBC and AFP report.
He was 86. “A voice raises from far away,” a statement on his Facebook page began. “It is with deep sadness that we announce you the loss of Manu Dibango, our Papy Groove.” There will be a private funeral service before a tribute is held “when possible,” according to the statement.
Born in Cameroon, Dibango attended high school in France, where he picked up the saxophone, as well as playing piano and vibraphone.
His career spanned more than six decades, including work with Fela Kuti, Peter Gabriel, and Herbie Hancock. “African music was in a museum for a long time,” he told The New York Times in