Flashmag April 2020 www.flashmag.net
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During a breakfast with Manu, at Francofolies de La Rochelle. Yves Bigot told him that he is the pioneer of African musicians in France and that he had the legitimacy to bring together the great artists in a cult album. Bigot claims that Manu was a little scared at first, because he was always fascinated by Pan-Africanism, he lived in Kinshasa, and was conductor of the Ivorian Radio and Television orchestra, and it caused him some troubles in his personal and professional life.
Bigot added "As we established the repertoire - pieces by Fela, Touré Kounda ... - he got into the game and found the album title," Wakafrika ". We invited Peter Gabriel, who was enthusiastic about the project. The album was mixed in Los Angeles, then released under the label, Giant in the United States, where it remained at the top of charts for a long time. Manu toured for three months in the United States, played in many festivals, shared the stage with James Brown. "Wakafrika" is a reference album. Last month, I heard it again in a restaurant in Abidjan! concluded an enthusiastic Bigot in an article published in Paris Match, March 24, 2020.
An ambitious musical reunification project for Africa, Manu revisited African song heritage, by inviting the tenors. Youssou N'dour on Soul Makossa, King Sunny Adé on Hi-Life, Salif Keïta, on Emma, Angélique Kidjo and Papa Wemba, on Ami Oh!, Without forgetting Peter Gabriel, Sinéad O'Connor, Dominic Miller (guitarist of Sting) and Manu Katché (among others). The single Biko (with Alex Brown, Peter Gabriel, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Geoffrey Oryema and Sinéad O'Connor) will be remixed in Atlanta by Brendan O'Brien.
In 1997, Dibango created the Festival Soirs au Village (title of one of his songs) in the city that hosted him at his beginning, Saint-Calais. This festival will take place every year for 18 years.
In 2001, he was invited by Werrason for a collaboration in a humanitarian Red Cross song in the album Kibwisa Mpimpa with singer Nathalie Makoma.
Named artist of the century in Cameroon in 2000, he returned to his country three years later to give two concerts on the occasion of his 70 birthday and 50 years of career. For this occasion, he was made an honorary citizen of the Capital city of Cameroon, Yaoundé and gave a five hours long concert at the esplanade of the National Museum of Cameroon.
Other distinctions came to reward the talented and generous musician: Commander of Arts and Letters in France, peace artist for UNESCO.
The song, "Reggae Makossa", by Manu Dibango, appears on the soundtrack of the video game Scarface 2006: The World Is Yours.
February 13, 2008 Manu Dibango was honored in Paris with the distinction of the grand prize of the National Union of songwriters
In August 2009, he played the closing concert of the Brecon Jazz Festival.
On July 25, 2009 he gave a concert at the Palais des Sports of Yaoundé accompanied by the Macase group, which he had previously brought with him to Montreal. The profits from this concert were donated to the Faculty of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Yaoundé. Manu considered that the students of this faculty had a heavy task, that of saving lives and deserved to be supported.
In July 2014, he gave a concert celebrating his 80th birthday at the Olympia in France; concert which was broadcasted by TV5Monde.
In the UK, Manu Dibango gave frequent concerts, one of the most memorable moments was a show during the Africa Day 2008 at Trafalgar Square, but the most satisfying for him was the regular reservations at the Ronnie Scott Club, where he liked to be recognized as a Jazz man.
In October 2019, Manu celebrated his 60th anniversary with a tour, which the highlight was a "large format" concert on October 17 at the Grand Rex in Paris. An event, which he had baptized "Symphonic Safari", he was accompanied by the Lamoureux Orchestra (conducted by Martin Fondse), his group Soul Makossa Band, plus a section of brass instruments and, as guest, the bassist Manou Gallo - around fifty musicians in all.
In 60 years of career Manu Dibango has released more than 70 albums and singles, while participating in more than 200 musical projects including film music including Ceddo by Sembene Ousmane 1976, and advertising jingles. He had countless collaborations with artists of various origins including Hugh Masekela, Fela Kuti, Tony Allen, Fania All-Stars, Ray Lema, Bill Laswell, Don Cherry, Sly and Robbie, Ladysmith Black Mambazo and many promising Cameroonians.
On September 8, 2015, Michaëlle Jean, Secretary General of the International Organization of La Francophonie, honored Manu Dibango with the title of Grand Temoin de La Francophonie at the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games. In 2010 he was decorated Knight of the Legion of honor in France.