Cameroon Legendary Saxophone Player Manu Dibango Dies from COVID-19

Selbymay/Wikimedia
Manu Dibango.
24 March 2020
allAfrica.com
By Melody Chironda

Cape Town — The veteran jazz singer and saxophone player has died after contracting the new coronavirus.

He was 86.

Close associates had last week confirmed that he had been taken to a French hospital for an unrelated illness when he was diagnosed.

Dibango is one of the first worldwide stars to die as a result of COVID-19.

A statement from  his official Facebook page  reads: "It is with deep sadness that we announce the loss of Manu Dibango, our Papy Groove, who passed away on 24th of March 2020, at 86 years old, further to COVID-19."

"His funeral service will be held in strict privacy, and a tribute to his memory will be organized when possible," the message said.

Dibango is popularly known for his Grammy award-winning track Soul Makossa. The song went on to be sampled by various musicians including the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson, and popstar Rihanna.

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