Afro-jazz legend, Manu Dibango, has died at the age 86 from coronavirus.
According to a message posted on his official Facebook page on Tuesday, the ‘Soul Makossa’ singer died after he contracted COVID-19.
The statement also confirmed that “his funeral service will be held in strict privacy, and a tribute to his memory will be organized when possible.”
His music publisher, Thierry Durepaire, confirmed that he died Tuesday morning in a hospital in the Paris region of France.
Manu Dibango was one of the pioneers of the Afro-jazz genre and is famous for fusing funk with traditional Cameroonian music.
On March 19, it was confirmed that the saxophonist was recovering after testing positive for coronavirus.
The message on his official Facebook page read, “After a recent hospital stay due to the Covid-19, Manu Dibango is resting and recovering in serenity. He asks you to respect his privacy. He looks forward to seeing you soon and asks you, in this troubled time that we all go through, to take good care of you.”
