THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
Afro-jazz legend Manu Dibango is dead.
The family of the Cameroonian singer and saxophonist announced his death at 86 of the new coronavirus on his Facebook page on Tuesday (24 March).
“It is with deep sadness that we announce to you the loss of Manu Dibango, our Papy Groove,” a statement on his official Facebook page read.
Dibango’s agent Thierry Durepaire also confirmed the music legend’s death. “He died early this morning in a hospital in the Paris region,” Durepaire said.
Dibango – best known for his 1972 song Soul Makossa – is the second African star in Europe to die of Covid-19. Congolese music star Aurlus Mabélé also died, aged 67, of the disease in a hospital in France’s capital Paris last Saturday.
By loading the post, you agree to Facebook’s privacy policy.
Learn more
Dibango was regarded the king of soukous – a high-tempo Congolese dance music popular across Africa.
He fused jazz and funk music with traditional sounds from his home country, Cameroon.
A virtuoso on the saxophone, vibraphone and piano, Dibango was a regular in Germany and last performed at the Africa Würzburg Festival in 2018.
Austin Ohaegbu
