Manu Dibango: COVID-19 claims first celebrity death in Africa
The novel coronavirus claimed its first celebrity death in Africa on Tuesday and its victim was Cameroonian legendary saxophonist and singer, Manu Dibango.
A statement on the Facebook page of the 86-year-old singer, on Tuesday, said he died after contracting coronavirus.
The statement read:
“It is with deep sadness that we announce the loss of Many Dibango, our Papy Grove, who passed away on 24th March of 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. The saxophonist was one of the pioneers of Afro-Jazz and also fused funk with traditional Cameroonian music.”
Although the deadly virus has killed 26 victims from over 1400 cases in Africa, Dibango is the first celebrity on the continent to die of COVID-19.
He is best known for the 1972 hit ‘Soul Makossa’.
In 2009, he sued Rihanna and Michael Jackson after accusing them of borrowing one of his hooks from ‘Soul Makossa’ for two songs on the legendary “Thriller” album. Jackson settled out of court.
