SAN FRANCISCO, March 25, (THEWILL) – While Africa has had relatively few deaths from the coronavirus, the continent has lost two legendary musicians to the disease.
They are Manu Dibango, a Cameroonian saxophone and vibraphone superstar, and Aurlus Mabele, the king of Congolese soukous music.
Both of them defined their genres, and both died of COVID-19 in Paris.
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Dibango, who fused African rhythms with funk to become one of the most influential musicians in world dance music was 86.
The Cameroon-born saxophonist, who gained international fame with his 1972 song “Soul Makossa,” died in a hospital in the Paris region, Thierry Durepaire said.
Dibango was hospitalized with an illness “linked to COVID-19,” his official Facebook page said last week.
Funeral services were to be “held in strict privacy” followed by a tribute “when possible,” Tuesday’s announcement said.
Dibango is survived by four children.
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