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| The New York Optimist |
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Manu Dibango (born 12 December 1933 in Douala, Cameroon) is a Cameroonian saxophonist and vibraphone player. He developed a
musical style fusing jazz, funk and traditional Cameroonian music. He is a member of the Yabassi ethnic group, though his mother was
a Duala.
He was a member of the seminal Congolese rumba group African Jazz, and has collaborated with many other musicians, including Fania
All Stars, Fela Kuti, Herbie Hancock, Bill Laswell, Bernie Worrell, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Don Cherry, and Sly and Robbie. In 1998
he recorded the album CubAfrica with Cuban artist Eliades Ochoa .
His Soul Makossa is often considered the first disco record. The song of the same name on that record contains the lyrics "makossa",
which means "(I) dance" in his native tongue, the Cameroonian language, Duala). It has influenced several popular music hits, including
Michael Jackson's "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'", as well as his re-recording of that song with Akon, the Fugees' "Cowboys", and
Rihanna's "Don't Stop the Music".The 1982 parody song "Boogie In Your Butt" by comedian Eddie Murphy interpolates Soul Makossa's
bassline and horn charts while "Butt Naked Booty Bless" by 1990s hip hop group Poor Righteous Teachers heavily samples its
musical bridge and drum patterns.
musical style fusing jazz, funk and traditional Cameroonian music. He is a member of the Yabassi ethnic group, though his mother was
a Duala.
He was a member of the seminal Congolese rumba group African Jazz, and has collaborated with many other musicians, including Fania
All Stars, Fela Kuti, Herbie Hancock, Bill Laswell, Bernie Worrell, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Don Cherry, and Sly and Robbie. In 1998
he recorded the album CubAfrica with Cuban artist Eliades Ochoa .
His Soul Makossa is often considered the first disco record. The song of the same name on that record contains the lyrics "makossa",
which means "(I) dance" in his native tongue, the Cameroonian language, Duala). It has influenced several popular music hits, including
Michael Jackson's "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'", as well as his re-recording of that song with Akon, the Fugees' "Cowboys", and
Rihanna's "Don't Stop the Music".The 1982 parody song "Boogie In Your Butt" by comedian Eddie Murphy interpolates Soul Makossa's
bassline and horn charts while "Butt Naked Booty Bless" by 1990s hip hop group Poor Righteous Teachers heavily samples its
musical bridge and drum patterns.
