Angélique Kidjo and Youssou Ndour lead tributes
Tributes for Cameroonian Afro-jazz legend Manu Dibango have been flooding social media.
The 86-year-old saxophone player died in Paris on Tuesday morning after catching coronavirus.
Beninois star Angélique Kidjo called him the “original giant of African music” – and tweeted a clip of them rehearsing his hit Soul Makossa together two months ago:
Verified
Dear #ManuDibango, you’ve always been there for me from my beginnings in Paris to this rehearsal just 2 months ago! You re the original Giant of African Music and a beautiful human being. This coda of #SoulMakossa is for you! pic.twitter.com/3pGoICwjCn— Angelique Kidjo (@angeliquekidjo) March 24, 2020
Youssou Ndour was distraught at the news, tweeting: “Oh no not you Manu Dibango”.
The Senegalese pop star said he didn’t have the words to express his sadness at the loss of the “genius of the sax”:
Quote Message: You were a big brother, a pride for Cameroon and for all of Africa. A huge loss!”
You were a big brother, a pride for Cameroon and for all of Africa. A huge loss!”
OH NON PAS TOI MANU DIBANGO. J’ai pas les mots pour traduire toute ma tristesse. Tu as été un grand frère, une fierté pour le Cameroun et pour l’Afrique toute entière. Une immense perte ! RIP le Roi de la Makossa et Génie de la Saxo. YN pic.twitter.com/XRJAeVLdiF
— YOUSSOU NDOUR (@YoussouNdourSN) March 24, 2020