Manu Dibango - Essential Recordings [2CD Set] (2005)

Manu Dibango is a true one-off who can cover a vast musical spectrum in one mighty bound. This Lion of Cameroun distinctively blends Afro rhythms and funked-up sax; an explosive mix that has made him popular with fans of soul, funk, jazz, Afro and world music alike. In addition to recording pioneering dance-floor tracks like Soul Makossa, Abele Dance and Africa Boogie he has collaborated on stage and disc with a wide and varied range of musos including Sly and Robbie, Herbie Hancock, Bill Laswell, Fania All Stars, Don Cherry, Tony Allen, Joseph Kabasele and Francis Bebey among others. Alumni of his band include current African stars such as Lokua Kanza and Richard Bona.

Manu gave soul music its Afro-transfusion back at the start of the 1970s with his massive international hit Soul Makossa. The original 1972 release remains the most influential African record to date, both for its effect on the burgeoning soul/jazz/disco/funk scene in America and for opening the window on a whole world of African music, which had hitherto been a bit of a closed scene to non-African listeners. Here you have Manu’s self-owned and very faithful version.