Cameroonian afro-jazz legend Manu Dibango died as a result of the new coronavirus. Relatives of the artist announced the news on his Facebook page on Tuesday, March 24, 2020.
The author of one of the biggest planetary hits in world music, “Soul Makossa” (1972), is the first world celebrity to die from the virus. “He died early in the morning in a hospital in the Paris region,” said Thierry Durepaire, manager of the artist’s musical editions, to AFP.
“The funeral will take place in strict family intimacy, and a tribute will be paid to him as soon as possible”, one can read on the singer’s Facebook page, held by his entourage.
“Soul Makossa”, the song that gave birth to it, had an amazing destiny. It was initially only the B side of a 45 laps whose flagship title was an anthem for the Cameroon football team on the occasion of the African Cup of Nations.
Spotted by New York DJs, the title has known a thousand lives. Manu Dibango even accused Michael Jackson of plagiarism on a song from the album “Thriller”. A financial agreement was finally reached.
