Advertisers usually warn that if it is not the product at hand, no alternative can be exactly the same. They have a point. The African jazz legend, Manu Dibango, is in a class of his own. The veteran musician is expected in Nairobi, Kenya, to headline Safaricom’s International Jazz Day celebrations on May 1st. And tongues are already wagging.
The 84-year-old Dibango will be joined by 12 Kenyan bands at the jazz concert to be hosted at Carnivore Grounds. This will be Dibango’s maiden performance on the Safaricom jazz festivals.
Born in Douala, Cameroon, in 1933, Dibango is most well-known for his Grammy Award-winning track, Soul Makossa. The song topped the charts in 1973 and went on to be sampled by mega-star musicians including the late king of pop, Michael Jackson, and US divan, Rihanna.
Manu Dibango has enjoyed a music career spanning several continents over five decades, during which he worked with artists such as Herbie Hancock, Bootsy Collins, Bernie Worrel and Grammy Award nominee the late South Africa legendary jazz artiste, Hugh Masekela. Dibango will be joined by his band – the Soul Makossa Gang – and a line-up of Kenyan jazz artistes.
A statement from the Chief executive of Safaricom, Bob Collymore, said, “It’s a privilege and a dream come true for us to host Manu Dibango as we kick off the events that will lead up to the 6th edition of the Safaricom International Jazz Festival next year. This will be a celebration of local jazz talent and an opportunity for us to honor all the Kenyan bands that have been a part of the Safaricom International Jazz Festival on one stage”. That says it all.
