Manu Dibango was ‘the giant of African music’- Angélique Kidjo,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:

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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!”