Genre:

Makossa Jazz Funk

Instrument:

Saxophone Piano

Articles:
Discography 1
Discography 2

On the Internet
Short article
More about Manu Dibango
Music samples

Biography

Saxophonist, pianist and composer, Manu Dibango is one of the veterans in African music and the creator of the gripping "Soul Makossa", that’s also the title of his biggest hit from 1973.
Manu Dibango was born in Cameroon, but left his homeland in 1949 when he was sent to France to complete his education. Dibango lived in Paris until 1956 when he relocated to Brussels. There he began to develop the blend of jazz and Cameroon music for which he later became famous.
In 1960 he was with a band of Joseph Kasabele's, an influential musician from Congo. Dibango played with his own band in Cameroon for a couple of years before heading back to Paris, where he installed himself as a studio musician. He backed several black American and African artists, and made his premier solo album in 1968. Strongly influenced by jazz and rhythm and blues, he continued to perfect his own style.
In 1971 he was visiting Cameroon and was asked by the President to write a song for the African Football Championship. On the B-side he played on the accidentally-chosen instrumental, "Soul Makossa". This was the start of his big international breakthrough. In 1973 "Soul Makossa" became a big hit, thanks to air time on radio in New York; Atlantic imported 150,000 copies from France and sold them within the space of a week. Later, Dibango received a gold disk and was nominated for a Grammy. The sound also caught on in Europe and Africa. But it is said that the only thing that the song has in common with Cameroon Makossa, is the name.
Manu continued to play on a long list of albums that were well-received in the 1970s. In the 1980s he made quite a few reggae-inspired albums for Island, and is still active as a musician. His is the music which seems to attract full houses no matter where in the world he plays. He has an enormous production line going and has collaborated with people like Fela Kuti, Don Cherry and Angelique Kidjo. Manu Dibango is a typical international musician who means more to European and American jazz than for African music as such.

Relevant artists:
Zap Mama
Angelique Kidjo

SOUL MAKOSSA  
Musidisc/1985

Only a short message: this music disk re-releases Manu Dibango's classic, "Soul Makossa" from 1985! If you don't know this album I can tell you that you are dealing with Cameroon's great saxophonist; the man who perhaps better than any other combines "jazz" with African rhythm in such as way that the rappers go nuts and will travel to Africa to do whatever they can with this musical mover. So this is the man who writes great jazz - while others in the field sit back and wait for a revival. Now the revival is here, but go to the source when the source is accessible. Recommended!

Arne Berg

WAKAFRIKA  
Giant/1994

A kind of jazz album; very competent, but for me it lacks the hard stamp and engagement. This is in spite of the big names like Sinead O'Connor, Youssou N'Dour, Salif Keita and Ladysmith Black Mambazo's collaboration. The funky jazz rolls and goes but rarely grabs you. Among the better pieces are a new version of "Soul Makossa" with Youssou N'Dour on vocals, and the instrumental title track, where the saxophone sparkles.

MBOA SU
JPS Records/2000

The recent Manu Dibango disks have been disappointing; "Mboa Su" is
a welcome comeback for the 66 year old composer and saxophonist.

Nigel Williamson, Songlines

KAMER FEELING
JPS Records/2001

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