Photo: Selbymay · CC BY-SA 4.0 · credits
Tier 2 · legacy legendfull biography
Manu Dibango
Person · male · Cameroon · Douala · born 1933 · died 2020 · recording since 1962
Cameroonian musician and songwriter, recording artist (1933–2020)
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Also known as Dibango, Manu · Emmanuel N'Djoké Dibango · Manu Dibangu · 马努·迪班戈
Timeline
58 events▣ Album 52✦ Award 3◦ Birth 1★ Debut release 1† Death 1
1930s
1960s
· Debut release
Debut release: Twist à Léo
First documented Single in the MusicBrainz discography.
source: musicbrainz
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
2020s
Biography
English biography1,196 words · 6 sectionssource: wikipedia-en · licence CC BY-SA 4.0 · revision 1356486770
Biography
Emmanuel N'Djoké "Manu" Dibango (12 December 1933 – 24 March 2020) was a Cameroonian musician and songwriter who played saxophone and vibraphone. He developed a musical style fusing jazz, funk, and traditional Cameroonian music. His father was a member of the Yabassi ethnic group, while his mother was a Duala. He was best known for his 1972 single "Soul Makossa
Soul MakossaSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracksA1New Bell6:51A2Nights in Zeralda4:38A3Hibiscus6:23B1Dangwa6:00B2Lily3:02B3Soul Makossa4:30B4Oboso5:23". The song has been referred to as the most sampled African song in addition Dibango, himself, as the most sampled African musician in history. He died from COVID-19 on 24 March 2020.
Early life
Emmanuel "Manu" Dibango was born in Douala, Cameroon, in 1933. His father, Michel Manfred N'Djoké Dibango, was a civil servant. Son of a farmer, he met his wife travelling by pirogue to her residence, Douala. Emmanuel's mother was a fashion designer, running her own small business. Both her ethnic group, the Douala, and his, the Yabassi, viewed this union of different ethnic groups with some disdain. Dibango had only a stepbrother from his father's previous marriage, who was four years older than him. In Cameroon, someone's ethnicity is dictated by their father, though Dibango wrote in his autobiography, Three Kilos of Coffee, that he had "never been able to identify completely with either of [his] parents".
Dibango's uncle was the leader of his extended family. Upon his death, Dibango's father refused to take over, as he never fully initiated his son into Yabassi customs. Throughout his childhood, Dibango slowly forgot the Yabassi language in favour of the Douala. However, his family did live in the Yabassi encampment on the Yabassi plateau, close to the Wouri River in central Douala. While a child, Dibango attended Protestant church every night for religious education, or nkouaida. He enjoyed studying music there, and reportedly was a fast learner.
In 1941, after being educated at his village school, Dibango was accepted into a colonial school, near his home, where he learned French. He admired the teacher, whom he described as "an extraordinary draftsman and painter". In 1944, French president Charles de Gaulle chose this school to perform the welcoming ceremonies upon his arrival in Cameroon.
In 1949, at the age of 15, Dibango was sent by his parents to college in Saint-Calais, France. After that, he attended the lycée de Chartres, where he learned to play the piano. Adopted by the French community there, he quickly assimilated with the local culture and began to settle in the country.
Career
After several stints with French jazz clubs, Dibango then moved to Belgium, where his talent attracted the owner of a Bantou club. He was then signed up by Joseph Kabasele, whose band, Le Grand Kallé et l'African Jazz (African Jazz), spearheaded a Congolese musical revolution in Africa. While in the Belgian capital of Brussels, he met his wife, a Belgian actress, model, and photographer named Marie-Josée (known as Coco), whom he married in 1957. Together with Coco, Dibango had with four children: Georgia (1969–2023), Michel, Marva, and James BKS (born 1982).
In 1959, Kabasele recorded the pan-African anthem "Indépendance Cha Cha" and invited him to the Congolese capital of Léopoldville (present-day Kinshasa) to work together. Dibango subsequently became a member of the African Jazz and collaborated with many other musicians, including Fania All Stars, Fela Kuti, Herbie Hancock, Bill Laswell, Bernie Worrell, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, King Sunny Adé, Don Cherry, and Sly and Robbie. He achieved a considerable following in the UK with a disco hit called "Big Blow", originally released in 1976 and re-mixed as a 12-inch (300 mm) single in 1978 on Island Records. In 1998, he recorded the album CubAfrica
CubAfricaSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Cielito Lindo3:152Carnaval5:513Rumba Makossa4:374Son de la Loma4:195Cerisiers Roses4:246Yerberito4:587Quizás Quizás6:358Promesa3:359El Manicero5:4510El Paralítico4:5111Cosita Linda3:06 with Cuban artist Eliades Ochoa. At the 16th Annual Grammy Awards in 1974, Dibango was nominated in the categories Best R&B Instrumental Performance and Best Instrumental Composition for "Soul MakossaSoul MakossaSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracksA1New Bell6:51A2Nights in Zeralda4:38A3Hibiscus6:23B1Dangwa6:00B2Lily3:02B3Soul Makossa4:30B4Oboso5:23".
The lyrics of the song "Soul Makossa" on the album of the same name contain the word "makossa", which refers to a style of Cameroonian urban music and means "(I) dance" in Dibango's native tongue, the Cameroonian language Duala. The song has influenced popular music hits, including Kool and the Gang's "Jungle Boogie".
In Canada, two other songs ranked on the AC charts. "Pepe Soup" was number 33 in 1974 and "Ashiko Go" was number 21 in 1975. His wife Coco died in 1995; while having a difficult time getting over the loss of what he considered his most beloved "Guardian Angel", Dibango released his religious Lamastabastani album in the same year, which he said is largely inspired by the late Coco.
He served as the first chairman of the Cameroon Music Corporation, with a high profile in disputes about artists' royalties. Dibango was appointed a UNESCO Artist for Peace in 2004.
His song "Reggae Makossa
Reggae MakossaSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Reggae Makossa5:08" is featured on the soundtrack to the 2006 video game Scarface: The World Is Yours. In August 2009, he played the closing concert at the revived Brecon Jazz Festival.
His song "New Bell" is featured on the soundtrack to the 2008 video game Grand Theft Auto IV in the radio station International Funk 99.
In 1982, Michael Jackson used the "Ma ma-se, ma ma-sa, ma ma-kossa" hook from Dibango's 1972 single "Soul Makossa", without his permission and without credit, for his 1983 song "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" from his superhit 1982 album Thriller. When Dibango found out, he considered suing the megastar, but Jackson was quick to admit that he had borrowed the line and the matter was settled out of court.In 2007, Rihanna sampled the same hook from Jackson's song for her track "Don't Stop the Music" and did not credit Dibango. When Rihanna had asked Jackson for permission to sample the line, he allegedly approved the request without contacting Dibango beforehand. In 2009, Dibango sued both singers. Dibango's attorneys brought the case before a court in Paris, demanding €500,000 in damages and asking for Sony BMG, EMI and Warner Music to be "barred from receiving 'mama-se mama-sa'-related income until the matter is resolved". The judge ruled that Dibango's claim was inadmissible: a year earlier, a different Paris-area judge had required Universal Music to include Dibango's name in the liner notes of future French releases of "Don't Stop the Music", and, at the time of this earlier court appearance, Dibango had withdrawn legal action, thereby waiving his right to seek further damages.
In July 2014, he performed an 80th birthday concert at the Olympia in Paris which was broadcast by TV5Monde.
On 8 September 2015, Michaëlle Jean, Secretary General of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie, honoured Manu Dibango with the title of Grand Témoin de la Francophonie aux Jeux Olympiques et Paralympiques de Rio 2016.
Death
On 24 March 2020, Dibango died from COVID-19 in Melun near Paris, France. The news of his death was confirmed by his family via social media (Twitter). In response, many musicians and fans praised him as a musician and composer. He was 86 years old.
Compilations
African Soul - The Very Best Of Manu Dibango (1997)
Anthology (2000)
Africadelic - The Best Of Manu Dibango (2003)
The Rough Guide To Manu Dibango (2004)
General sources
Dibango, Manu; Rouard, Danielle; Raps, Beth G (1994), Three Kilos of Coffee: An Autobiography, Chicago: University of Chicago Press, ISBN 0-226-14491-7, OCLC 29519086
Discography & profile
Normalised profile
Percentiles are computed over every artist in the database, so a tier-3 artist can still sit in the 95th percentile on a single axis.
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 47 | 96.1th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 107 | 98.1th |
| Studio albums | 52 | 99.3th |
| Awards recorded | 3 | 95.4th |
| Timeline events | 58 | 99.2th |
| Recording span (years) | 58 | 96.8th |
| Genres | 12 | 97.8th |
Percentiles are computed at render time; missing values mean the artist has no data on that axis.
Discography (107 release groups · 52 studio albums)
Albums · 52
1969 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 38:47
A1Oh! Happy Day4:36A2Je veux être noir3:02A3Sneakin’ Home4:08A4Twenty‐Four Hours3:24A5Double or Nothing2:55A6Mendocino2:05B1Le Métèque2:44B2Ngodi Man2:42B3Blue on Green3:08B4Sunday Morning4:19B5Wouri3:07B6From Congo2:371970 · studio album
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Tracklist · 14 tracks · 49:06
A1Gauche / Droite = Débordement3:25A2Africa d’ambiance2:29A3Cambridge… Mai Ya Piyo3:12A4Laurent Fantôme2:50A5Safari Muzuri4:39A6Africa Boogaloo3:38A7Kimbombo Kimbombo3:41B1Disiplini Na K.D.L.4:48B2Valentina – Valentina2:54B3Miango2:34B4Bongaloo La Fontaine3:50B5Congo Soyo3:05B6Charanga in Paris3:57B7Suzi n’Edo4:041971 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 36:23
A1Soma Loba4:10A2Lily3:20A3Oa Na Mba3:50A4Ngolowake4:20A5Bata Senga3:40B1Idiba3:40B2Munyenge Na Ndutu3:10B3Senga3:07B4Biso3:51B5Afrikani3:151972 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 37:49
A1Groovy Flute2:33A2Soul Saxes Meeting3:00A3African Pop Session2:54A4Walking to Waza4:03A5Out of Score2:50A6Ba‐Kuba3:55B1Zoom 20004:00B2Aphrodite Shake3:25B3Wilderness3:10B4Jungle Riders3:00B5Iron Wood2:45B6Coconut2:141972 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 32:15
A1Thème N°12:10A2Thème N°22:15A3Thème N°33:12A4Thème N°43:15A5Thème N°52:50A6Thème N°62:26B1Thème N°74:10B2Thème N°82:42B3Thème N°91:43B4Thème N°102:40B5Thème N°113:00B6Thème N°121:521972 · studio album
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Tracklist · 7 tracks · 36:25
A1New Bell (Hard Pulsation)6:51A2Nights in Zeralda4:38A3Hibiscus6:23B1Dangwa (Three Points)6:00B2Wild Man in the City4:20B3O Boso5:23B4Ngosso2:501973 · studio album
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Tracklist · 7 tracks · 36:47
A1New Bell6:51A2Nights in Zeralda4:38A3Hibiscus6:23B1Dangwa6:00B2Lily3:02B3Soul Makossa4:30B4Oboso5:231974 · studio album
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Tracklist · 8 tracks · 41:03
A1Pepe Soup3:53A2Weya5:55A3Tom Tom4:55A4Mwasa Makossa6:05B1Moni4:15B2Essimo6:05B3Lakisane4:30B4Senga5:251974 · studio album
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Tracklist · 8 tracks · 35:02
A1Super Kumba6:50A2Kata Kata4:16A3Bwembe Na Bwemba3:03A4Mabola Mongo (instrumental)3:18B1Wasa n’ Dolo3:58B2Diboki3:20B3Soir Au Village3:57B4Wana di Lambo6:201976 · studio album
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Tracklist · 6 tracks · 37:46
A1Qui est fou de qui ?3:57A2Bokilo’s Boogie6:15A3Mimbo7:50B1Mouvement Forward7:50B2Besoka7:34B3Angola4:201976 · studio album
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Tracklist · 6 tracks · 34:19
A1Big Blow5:40A2Dakar Streets4:32A3Aloko Party5:41B1Bayam Sell’am5:56B2Baobab Sun 77:00B3Afrovision5:301978 · studio album
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Tracklist · 4 tracks · 31:27
A1Anty9:15A2Matumba7:25B1Motapo6:42B2Sun Explosion8:051979 · studio album
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Tracklist · 4 tracks · 36:25
A1Sun Explosion9:12A2Tropical Garden8:25B1Ah! Freak Sans Fric8:38B2Oh Koh10:101980 · studio album
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Tracklist · 6 tracks · 35:55
A1Full Up4:32A2Goro City8:39A3Doctor Bird5:03B1Reggae Makossa6:35B2Frozen Soul4:03B3Tek Time7:031981 · studio album
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Tracklist · 6 tracks · 34:05
A1Happy Feeling6:30A2Ça va chouïa5:15A3Bona Sango4:40B1Choc ’n’ Soul5:40B2Night Jet6:40B3Kumbale Style5:201982 · studio album
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Tracklist · 6 tracks · 34:40
A1Mboa4:53A2Bienvenue, Welcome to Cameroun4:55A3Miniya5:15B1Maya Ma Bobe7:06B2Pour une poignée de C.f.A.7:11B3Edube na loba5:201982 · studio album
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Tracklist · 6 tracks · 33:12
1Waka Juju4:442Douala Serenade6:273Africa Boogie4:154Mouna Pola5:135Ma Marie6:456Manga-bolo5:481983 · studio album
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Tracklist · 6 tracks · 34:46
1Canta6:162Baobab Sunset5:193Village’s News6:414Deliverance6:375Na selele5:046Gentlemen de Camp Yabassi4:491983 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 34:22
A1Poinciana3:49A2Es la nostalgia4:33A3El manisero2:35A4Petite fleur3:28A5Maria Elena3:06B1Nature Boy4:06B2Tres palabras3:24B3Frenesi2:57B4Ni toi, ni moi3:16B5Vaya con dios3:08Piano Solo, Mélodies Africaines, Volume 1
1983 · studio album
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Tracklist · 8 tracks
A1ElongiA2Longe leseA3MalaikaA4BintouB1Meddley : Francoise, na loma letta, numa digB2EpoupaB3Rose de porcelaineB4Mudied’asu1984 · studio album
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Tracklist · 8 tracks · 36:24
A1O Bia4:40A2O Tétén’ a Munja5:51A3Le Bûcheron5:26A4Songo’ A Ésèlè4:43B1Nsi Sim Nti0:04B2Nen Lambo5:50B3Na Tiledi Oa Leta4:10B4Sere Fun Me Baby5:401984 · studio album
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Tracklist · 6 tracks · 30:34
A1Ashiko Oumba4:59A2Nimele Loko5:35A3Bemoune5:14B1Afric Sans Fric4:38B2Di Lambo4:58B3Maya Ma Bobe5:101985 · studio album
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Tracklist · 4 tracks · 35:05
1Pata Piya6:382Electric Africa10:243Echos Beti6:174L’Arbre à palabres11:461986 · studio album
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Tracklist · 8 tracks · 59:41
1Massa Lemba5:522Bushman Promenade5:033Gombo Sauce5:194Soir au village5:245Makossa ’8716:536Kango7:247Douala Serenade7:258Abelley Sphere6:211987 · studio album
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Tracklist · 8 tracks · 56:14
1Tropical Garden8:222Ah Freak Sans Fric8:383Oh Oh10:084Canta6:145Mboa4:536Village’s News6:377Gentlemen de Camp Yabassi4:478Deliverance6:351989 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 1:15:08
1Wambele11:482Soma Loba7:343Summertime7:074Midnight Sun4:535Big Blow8:206Chérie6:157Dube5:238Soul Makossa12:059Morning Glory5:2110Aye Africa6:221990 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 1:05:43
1Senga Abele (Lion Roar)8:062Yekey Tenge (Lion Line)5:553Soma Loba6:584Polysonik7:165Minçalor (Lion Feeling)6:576Kwala Kwala6:017Negriers5:558Jazzeries4:149Polysonik (dance mix)7:1810Minçalor (dance mix)7:031992 · studio album
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Tracklist · 9 tracks · 43:14
1Alome4:272Missiya3:473Aloko Party5:014Longe Lese5:265Miango5:136Parfum des îles4:487Oh Koh!5:598Pavane pour mélodie3:419Panafrican Jam4:521994 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 39:47
1Mpulimwamoni4:292Pata Pata4:443Scoubidou Merengue3:064Négropolitaines7:195Indépendance4:326Djom Tebo5:007Minuit au circuit1:198Diana Lama4:179Christmas Flash0:2810Mudied ’Asu4:331994 · studio album
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Tracklist · 15 tracks · 1:16:02
1Soul Makossa5:412Biko5:143Wakafrica4:484Emma6:005Homeless3:476Lady5:327Hi‐Life5:448Wimoweh4:209Ami Oh!4:4310Jingo5:1011Pata Pata4:0512Diarab5:0013Ça va chouïa7:1014Biko remix4:5115Wakafrica remix3:571995 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks
1Elie2Elongi3Nsi Sim Nti4Mouna Maria5Édubé Na Loba6Lomboh!7Nobody Knows I8Nobody Knows II9Moussina10L’Hymne à l’amour1995 · studio album
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Tracklist · 6 tracks · 44:11
1Senga Abele8:062Abele Dance6:523Abele Dance (club mix)8:184Papa Piya6:365Polysinik (dance mix)7:176Mincalor (dance mix)7:021996 · studio album
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Tracklist · 6 tracks · 51:17
1Makossa Rock6:332Afro-Beat11:013Boat People5:234Big Blow10:215Bao Bao6:176Chapo-So Jam11:421997 · studio album
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Tracklist · 7 tracks · 39:32
1Soul Makossa6:262Pepe Soup3:553Qui est fou de qui ?3:544Bayam Sell’Am5:495Big Blow7:586Aloko Party5:267Miss Cavacha6:041998 · studio album
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Tracklist · 11 tracks · 51:16
1Cielito Lindo3:152Carnaval5:513Rumba Makossa4:374Son de la Loma4:195Cerisiers Roses4:246Yerberito4:587Quizás Quizás6:358Promesa3:359El Manicero5:4510El Paralítico4:5111Cosita Linda3:062000 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 40:40
1Go Down Moses4:252Le seigneur nous a aimés5:323A Dikom Ala Na Musango4:044Bongsane !...Dangwa !...3:025Sima Dibato La Nyungu O Moyn4:266Michael Rows the Boat Ashore3:117Sango Yesu Kristo3:558Dipita3:059Edube Na Loba5:1810Oh Happy Day3:422000 · studio album
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Tracklist · 7 tracks · 42:03
1Mboa’ Su4:282Ayé Africa (Le Bûcheron)4:243Oh! Koh!6:384Wéya Mouna5:475Big Blow / Abélé Mood7:366Maya Ma Bobé7:587Sango Yésu Cristo5:122001 · studio album
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Tracklist · 9 tracks · 48:51
1Bolingo City7:012Mouvement Ewondo6:203K. Dansez-Moi Ça4:054Ongele Mba5:255Lily4:116Ashiko Mouv'4:377Mulema Étoum5:228Africratie6:369Descarga Around Sango RKK5:14Sax & Spirituals Lamastabastani
2006 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 47:18
1Di Ma Dangwa5:022Di Ma Sesa4:203Elie4:334Moussina3:555Nsi Sim Nti4:366Elongi5:177Mouna Maria5:028Edube Na Loba4:559L’Hymne à l’amour4:1710Nobody Knows5:212007 · studio album
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Tracklist · 14 tracks · 1:00:02
1Dans les rues d’Antibes4:192Les Oignons4:503Si tu vois ma mère4:414In a Georgia Cabin4:245Strutting With Some Barbecue4:116Halle Hallelujah3:507Petite fleur3:428As‐tu le cafard ?5:299Mahogany Hall Stomp2:5410Royal Garden Blues4:2911Careless Love4:0712Cousin Bechet Blues4:3713Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans4:1914Dans les rues d’Antibes4:102008 · studio album
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Tracklist · 17 tracks · 1:08:36
1Lagos Go Slow3:502Du bush a bush4:553Walking to Waza4:074Blowing Western Mind6:135Motapo5:266Groovy Flute2:377African Pop Session2:568Coco in Central Park6:359Ba‐Kuba3:5910Ponda Maloko4:2011Zoom 20004:0012Coconut2:1713Aphrodite Shake3:2814New York Summer 754:2915Jungle Riders3:0316Moulena na moudi3:3517Iron Wood2:462010 · studio album
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Tracklist · 24 tracks · 1:35:09
1Over the Rainbow3:572Summertime4:243Funny Valentine4:144Night in Tunisia (And the Melody Still Lingers On)4:105Fly Me to the Moon4:136What a Wonderful World2:487Blue Moon3:598My Baby Just Cares for Me3:569Fever4:0010Misty4:5111Cry Me a River4:4112All of Me3:2413Satin Doll3:1014Dream a Little Dream of Me4:1015Can’t Take My Eyes Off You3:5516I Will Survive3:2917What a Difference a Day Makes5:0418Just an Illusion5:1119Lily Was Here3:4720Smooth Operator3:4421That’s the Way (I Like It)3:1022Stormy Weather3:2323Forgot to Sleep (Part 3)3:5324African Paradise (Part 2)3:362011 · studio album
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Tracklist · 14 tracks · 49:34
1Manu Dibango1:092Afreedom4:363Elolombe4:254Oum Song3:375Bantou Life3:556Douala Memphis3:597Paris je t'aime d'amour4:518The Manu Walk4:019Haters Anthem3:3210Keep on Running3:5811Shallow Waters3:5912Africa3:0613Soul Makossa 2.03:2814Kamer Lion0:582013 · studio album
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Tracklist · 18 tracks · 1:09:38
1Maladie d’amour3:292Le Sud4:483Killing Me Softly With His Song4:184Try a Little Tenderness3:335Ode to Billie Joe3:276When a Man Loves a Woman4:557Et maintenant3:598A Night in Tunisia3:279Milady’s Song3:3210La Foule4:1511L’Été indien3:3112Roses de Picardie4:0513The Dock of the Bay4:5914Isn’t She Lovely3:3015I Love Paris3:4116My Girl3:3717Perfidia3:1818Le Métèque3:142014 · studio album
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Tracklist · 13 tracks · 1:10:38
1Mission to Moscow3:102Halle Hallelujah3:423Dans les rues d’Antibes4:494If I Had You5:355Hamp’s Walkin’ Boogie3:206Slipped Disc8:347Morning Glory5:378Place du tertre6:349Cotton Tail8:5810Take the a Train7:0211One O’ Clock Jump3:2712Air Mail Special7:2313Dany Blues Big Band2:272016 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 1:03:01
1Waka Juju4:492Super Kumba8:023Pour une poignée de CFA7:174The Panther2:295Négropolitaines7:196Mpuli Mwa Moni3:237Mboa4:538Manga Bolo5:439Lagos Go Slow3:4810À la claire fontaine5:0211Gombo Sauce5:2012Du Bush à Bush4:562016 · studio album
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Tracklist · 13 tracks · 1:04:02
1Blowin’ Western Mind6:132Bessoka (version courte)3:293Africa Boogie4:174Soul Fiesta (remix version longue)5:465Reggae Makossa6:376Qui est fou de qui ?3:597Pavane pour une mélodie3:418Ngosso2:509Mincalor7:0010Kango7:2211Images de famille4:3912Chock ’n’ Soul5:1813Black Beauty2:512016 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 1:07:23
1Un soir au village4:052Tek Time7:033Soul Makossa (Manu Version)4:254Soul Fiesta (Remix Version Longue)5:465Ambiance Tropika4:396Aloko Party5:027Waka Juju4:498Pour une poignée de CFA7:179Négropolitaines7:1910Manga Bolo5:4311À la claire fontaine5:0212Blowin’ Western Mind6:132016 · studio album
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Tracklist · 9 tracks · 43:59
1Chock ’n’ Soul5:182Pavane pour une mélodie3:413Un soir au village4:054Lagos Go Slow3:485Soul Makossa (Manu version)4:256Bessoka (version courte)3:297Pour une poignée de CFA7:178Blowin’ Western Mind6:139Manga Bolo5:432017 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 1:02:24
1Blues for Africa3:182Take Five6:343Tutu8:144Softly as in a Morning Sunrise5:555Unga Hlupheki Nkata5:196Night and Day9:057In a Sentimental Mood5:148Nonto Sangoma6:269Soul Makossa8:0210West South Side4:172018 · studio album
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Tracklist · 16 tracks · 1:12:18
1Grandoura6:392Peaceful Homeland5:283Images de famille4:394Bana Ba Cameroun4:255Soir au village4:056Maya Ma Bobe6:327Dasiko4:068Ngosso2:509From Africa3:5710Sango Pousse Pousse3:1311Angola4:2512Bintou6:1713Miss Cavacha6:1014Abidjan City3:4015Dispute2:1516Aya3:372022 · studio album
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Tracklist · 9 tracks · 36:26
1Ekedi2:532Gentlemen de Camp Yabassi4:133Anbessa3:444Oterena Munja3:145Du Bush A Bush4:336African Pop Session4:127La Colère des Dieux5:348Tinchel3:469Peaceful Homeland4:17
Single · 17
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | Twist à LéoSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracksATwist à Léo BDizzy me | 1962 | ||
| 1973 | Soul MakossaSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracks · 7:32ASoul Makossa (The Original Version)4:30 BLily3:02 | May 1973 | ||
| 1978 | Sun Explosion / Big BlowSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracks · 16:05ASun Explosion8:05 BBig Blow8:00 | 1978 | ||
| 1978 | Anniversaire au paysSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 6 tracks · 35:44A1Unité nationale 787:00 A2Miniya5:15 A3Rencontre7:00 B1Gandoura6:32 B2Peaceful Home Land5:22 B3Images de famille4:35 | 1978 | ||
| 1984 | Abele DanceSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracks · 15:05AAbele Dance6:50 BAbele Dance Dub8:15 | 1984 | ||
| 1985 | Pata PiyaSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 3 tracks · 6:35APata Piya (extended version)6:35 B1Pata Piya (radio edit) B2Abele Dance ('85 remix) | 1985 | ||
| 1986 | Makossa ’87 (Big Blow)Search SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracks · 17:23AMakossa ’87 (Big Blow)10:17 BMakossa ’877:06 | 1986 | ||
| 1993 | Soul MakossaSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracks · 14:31ASoul Makossa6:29 BBig Blow8:02 | 1993 | ||
| 1994 | BikoSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 3 tracks · 13:291Biko (radio edit)3:50 2Biko (remix)4:51 3Wakafrika4:48 | 1994 | ||
| 1994 | Soul MakossaSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 4 tracks · 20:001Soul Makossa (freedom remix edit)4:10 2Soul Makossa (Mandela remix)4:41 3Soul Makossa (album mix)5:43 4Soul Makossa (freedom remix)5:26 | 1994 | ||
| 2015 | Akalé Wubé feat. Manu DibangoSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracks · 7:061African Pop Session4:13 2Ekedy2:53 | Live | 10 February 2015 | |
| 2016 | Tu sais (Hymne officiel de la francophonie)Search SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 1 track · 3:001Tu sais (Hymne officiel de la francophonie)3:00 | 5 August 2016 | ||
| 2018 | KweleSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracks · 8:051Kwele4:44 2Kwele (edit)3:21 | 12 July 2018 | ||
| 2020 | Paris je t’aime d’amourSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 1 track · 4:511Paris je t’aime d’amour4:51 | 14 February 2020 | ||
| 2026 | MatumbaSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 1 track · 4:371Matumba4:37 | 17 July 2026 | ||
| 2026 | Reggae MakossaSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 1 track · 5:081Reggae Makossa5:08 | 21 August 2026 | ||
| 2026 | Aloko PartySearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 1 track · 4:161Aloko Party4:16 | 18 September 2026 |
Album · 36
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Countdown at KusiniSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 11 tracks · 49:47A1Go Slow Streets3:46 A2Motapo5:24 A3Promenade (Kusini)6:37 A4Bokilo’s Boogie3:07 A5Jam Session3:58 B1Marine4:18 B2Bush4:55 B3Lea’s Love Theme3:31 B4Blowin’ Western Mind6:13 B5Liberation Song3:30 B6Red Salter4:28 | Soundtrack | 6 August 1975 | |
| 1976 | The World OfSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 10 tracks · 44:18A1Soul Makossa4:34 A2Mabola Mongo3:22 A3Dangwa (Three Points)6:03 A4Kata Kata4:21 A5Ngosso2:49 B1Super Kumba6:55 B2Senga5:41 B3Diboki3:25 B4Wasa Ndolo4:02 B5Bwemba Na Bwenba3:06 | Compilation | 1976 | |
| 1977 | L’Herbe sauvageSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 10 tracks · 40:11A1Miss Cavacha6:09 A2Bintou (1)3:55 A3Abidjan City3:38 A4Dispute2:12 A5Bintou (2)3:40 B1Monsieur, il n’est pas là5:54 B2Aya5:35 B3Palmeraies1:10 B4Sueurs & Angoisses1:43 B5Bintou (3)6:15 | Soundtrack | 1977 | |
| 1977 | Ceddo (Bande originale du film)Search SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 7 tracks · 36:07A1Ceddo (générique de début)7:05 A2Les Cavaliers4:22 A3Le Rêve de Dior3:37 A4La Boisson2:04 B1Marabout8:04 B2Libre Ceddo5:35 B3Ceddo (générique de fin)5:20 | Soundtrack | 1977 | |
| 1977 | À l’OlympiaSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 13 tracks · 1:07:35Disc 1 A1Kata Kata5:05 A2Aloko Party4:10 A3Bokilo’s Boogie5:45 B1Motapo5:25 B2Baobab Sun 76:45 B3Qui est fou de qui3:25 Disc 2C1Pepe Soup5:05 C2Mimbo5:45 C3Soul Makossa4:45 D1Jazz à Manu6:20 D2Sango Yesus Cristo7:45 D3Big Blow5:55 D4Soul Makossa – Final1:25 | Live | 1977 | |
| 1978 | Le Prix de la liberté (Bande originale du film)Search SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 8 tracks · 34:38A1O kiri4:38 A2Etee6:10 A3Saxo pour etee3:00 A4Le Prix de la liberté4:30 B1Douala serenade5:00 B2La Folle au village4:20 B3Joie d’etee4:00 B4Incendie au village3:00 | Soundtrack | 1978 | |
| 1983 | DeliveranceSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 6 tracksA1Canta A2Baobab Sunset A3Village’s News B1Deliverance B2Na selele B3Gentlemen de Camp Yabassi | Live | 1983 | |
| 1984 | L’Aventure ambiguë (Bande originale du film)Search SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 13 tracks · 30:44A1Sabal Dance (disco mix)3:26 A2Samba enfant (version sax‐soprano)1:05 A3Samba enfant (version guitare et cora)1:56 A4Bus brousse (version instrumentale)1:18 A5Rencontres ambiguës2:06 A6Amours de Mariane3:57 A7Midi au mess1:22 B1Les Sapes (avec voix)3:49 B2Sabal Dance (version avec cora)2:46 B3Rencontres ambiguës2:09 B4Amours de mariane (version avec chœurs)1:23 B5Sabal Dance (version sax)3:20 B6Bus brousse2:07 | Soundtrack | 1 July 1984 | |
| 1985 | Soul MakossaSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 11 tracks · 55:431Soul Makossa4:28 2Kata Kata4:19 3Rencontre6:47 4Soukouss5:31 5Taoumba3:25 6Pepe Soup3:58 7Moni4:18 8Essimo6:08 9New Bell «Hard Pulsation»6:51 10Nights In Zeralda4:37 11O Boso5:21 | Compilation | 1985 | |
| 1987 | À la JamaïqueSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 10 tracks · 58:191Full Up4:31 2Goro City8:34 3Doctor Bird5:02 4Frozen Soul4:01 5Tek Time7:00 6Happy Feeling6:25 7Bona Sango4:47 8Choc’n’Soul5:18 9Kumbele Style5:59 10Night Jet6:42 | Compilation | 1987 | |
| 1987 | Seventie’sSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 12 tracks · 1:00:151Big Blow5:45 2Qui est fou de qui ? (Chouchou)3:58 3Diboki3:22 4Mouvement ewondo7:10 5Baobab Sunset6:58 6Wana Di Lambo6:22 7Super Koumba6:39 8Soma Loba4:06 9Ngolowake4:00 10Senga3:04 11Munenge Na Ndutu3:08 12Bayam Sellam5:43 | Compilation | 1987 | |
| 1988 | La Fête à ManuSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 7 tracks · 1:15:331Wema Africa6:21 2Ouana di Lambo9:36 3Des mots et des gestes3:40 4Pata Piya/Electric Africa9:35 5Waka juju7:36 6Kango19:10 7Soul Makossa Medley19:35 | Live | 1988 | |
| 1991 | Live ’91Search SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 6 tracks · 48:58A1La Javanaise5:55 A2Wema8:21 A3Bolingo City10:06 B1Duke in Bushland7:47 B2Senga Abelé12:00 B3Jam Rap Makossa4:49 | Live | 1991 | |
| 1995 | AutoportraitSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 16 tracks · 1:17:381Dikalo3:23 2Hot Chicken4:22 3Asinus Asinum Fricat3:36 4Soul Machine3:02 5Sneakin' Home4:08 6O Boso5:22 7Africadelic2:14 8Soul Makosa4:28 9Super Kumba6:38 10Mouvememnt Ewondo6:57 11Baobab Sunset6:57 12Big Blow5:33 13Kumbele Style5:56 14Waka Juju4:47 15Abelley Sphere5:50 16Makossa Blow4:25 | Compilation | 1995 | |
| 1996 | Live 96, Papa GrooveSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 8 tracks · 49:061Papa Groove (live)6:41 2Super Kumba (live)8:17 3Talk Talk Show (live)5:40 4Medley Electric Afrika / Senga Abélé (live)6:24 5Grazing in the Grass (live)5:17 6Sag warum (live)6:13 7Morning Glory (live)5:46 8Ambiance Tropika (live)4:48 | Live | 1 January 1996 | |
| 1997 | African Soul: The Very Best OfSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 15 tracks · 1:14:051Dikalo (Salt Pop Corn)4:09 2Soul Makossa4:28 3Big Blow5:43 4Wakafrika4:49 5Soul Machine3:03 6Je veux être noir3:02 7Hot chicken4:25 8Sunday morning4:18 9From Congo2:33 10Wouri3:18 11Douala serenade6:24 12Bayam Sellam5:56 13Goro City8:36 14Choc'n'soul5:15 15Senga Abélé8:06 | Compilation | 1997 | |
| 1997 | Comment faire l’amour avec un nègre sans se fatiguer (Musique originale du film)Search SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 21 tracks · 45:201On vit de femmes4:09 2Pour commencer2:59 3Bolingo City3:50 4Thème de l’écrivain (Ballad)1:41 5Pusher (Séquence vélo)0:42 6Belzebuth0:49 7Montréal Festival Blues6:52 8Be My Wife (On BMW)0:48 9Miss Suicide0:44 10Kabassale Feeling4:09 11Long Pusher1:21 12Fun Love0:41 13Rumba Club1:14 14Thème de l’écrivain (jazz version)1:14 15Pusher 10:43 16Montréal Jazz Festival0:52 17Katmandou1:36 18Night in Blue0:38 19Drama Pusher2:33 20Cool Blues3:21 21Lokobobo4:24 | Soundtrack | 1997 | |
| 1998 | Manu SafariSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 20 tracks · 1:38:17Disc 1 1À la claire fontaine5:01 2Soir au village4:03 3Mboa4:52 4Maya ma Bobe6:28 5Pour une poignée de CFA7:16 6Miss Cavacha6:06 7Peaceful Homeland5:24 8Mangabolo5:42 9Kwala Kwala6:01 10À la claire fontaine (instrumental)4:00 Disc 21Ngolowake3:56 2Diboki3:21 3Di Lambo6:20 4Munyenge Na Ndutu3:06 5Soma Loba4:06 6Dasiko (Interpreté par Bella Bellow)4:04 7Senga3:02 8Qui est fou qui ? (Chouchou)3:57 9Mouvement Ewondo7:06 10Soir au village4:26 | Compilation | 1998 | |
| 1999 | Collection LégendeSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 12 tracks · 1:13:041Ah freak sans fric6:02 2Duke in Bushland7:51 3Ashiko Oumba5:02 4Na Selele4:36 5Kango7:16 6Deliverance6:31 7Canta6:12 8Oa na mba3:47 9Bushman Promenade5:03 10Ma Marie6:44 11Maya Ma Bobe7:04 12Mincalor6:56 | Compilation | 1999 | |
| 2000 | AnthologySearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 34 tracks · 3:17:26Disc 1 1Soul Makossa4:24 2Dasiko4:06 3Africadelic2:14 4Sax City3:16 5Tropical Garden8:22 6On Na Mba3:49 7Pepe Soup4:11 8Aloko Party5:00 9Baobab Sunset6:56 10Mouvement Ewondo6:57 11Na Selele4:31 12Wilderness3:09 13Bolingo City10:00 Disc 21Reggae Makossa6:36 2Bona Sango4:46 3Doctor Bird5:01 4Sun Explosion9:12 5Ça va chouïa5:55 6Miango5:11 7Mouna Loba4:06 8Ambiance tropica4:39 9Bintou6:15 10Mouna Maria4:58 11Oh Koh10:07 Disc 31Makossa Rock6:32 2Africa Boogie4:12 3Yekey Tenge6:22 4Mouna Pola5:13 5Négropolitaines7:17 6Village News6:36 7Toumba3:24 8Super Kumba8:01 9Massa Lemba5:48 10Electric Africa10:20 | Compilation | 2000 | |
| 2000 | The Very Best of Manu DibangoSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 11 tracks · 1:09:101Soul Makossa4:24 2Ekedi2:48 3Africadelic2:16 4Sun Explosion9:11 5A Freak Sans Fric8:38 6Oh Koh10:09 7Poinciana4:26 8Abele Dance6:54 9Electric Africa10:26 10Africa Boogie4:16 11Big Blow5:42 | Compilation | 2000 | |
| 2002 | B SidesSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 15 tracks · 1:00:471Miango Ma Tumba (Village News)6:08 2Mpuli Mwa Moni3:22 3Camp Yabassi Echoes4:13 4Balafoneries (Incendie au village)3:03 5Dakar Streets4:21 6African Nite Blues (Joie d’été)4:25 7Iron Woods2:45 8Ebony Tracks (Percussion Storm)1:52 9Besoka on Salsa7:32 10Fleur de Marigot (Le Rêve de Dior)3:12 11African Nite Blues3:00 12Les Cavaliers4:23 13Soul Fiesta (remix version courte)3:20 14Bessoka (version courte)3:26 15Soul Fiesta (remix version longue)5:45 | Compilation | 27 August 2002 | |
| 2003 | AfricadelicSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 15 tracks · 1:02:111Soul Makossa4:27 2Hot Chicken4:25 3Wouri3:18 4New Bell6:50 5Pepe Soup3:57 6Dikalo4:09 7African Carnaval3:18 8Night in Zeralda4:38 9Soul Machine3:03 10Sun Explosion4:05 11Africadelic2:17 12Iron Wood2:46 13Je veux être noir3:01 14Abelley Sphere5:51 15Soul Makossa (DJ Flex remix)6:06 | Compilation | 3 November 2003 | |
| 2004 | The Rough Guide to Manu DibangoSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 13 tracks · 1:17:241Ngolowake3:58 2Miango ma tumba6:08 3Miss Cavacha6:08 4Nature Boy4:24 5Mi niya5:14 6Oa na mba3:49 7Mouna pola5:14 8Baobab Sunset6:58 9Super Kumba8:03 10Bayam sellam5:43 11Camp Yabassi Echoes4:15 12Négropolitaines7:20 13Makossa Blow10:10 | Compilation | 2004 | |
| 2004 | Voyage anthologiqueSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 47 tracks · 3:39:38Disc 1 1Nago Nago2:54 2Ko Iyo2:30 3Twist A Leo2:38 4Fogo2:52 5Kara Kara2:22 6Kamulango2:42 7Wachi Wara2:56 8Cha Cha Nana2:56 9La Coupe des tropiques2:46 10Mboa3:32 11Lily3:02 12Soma Loba4:12 13Oanamba3:50 14Biso3:54 15Ngolowake3:57 16Senga3:03 17Je veux être noir3:01 18Wouri3:17 19Hot Chicken4:23 20Dikalo4:08 Disc 21Jazz Douala3:30 2Soul Sister2:49 3Hibiscus6:21 4O Boso5:21 5Walking To Waza4:05 6Soul Makossa4:26 7Big Blow5:42 8Sun Explosion9:09 9Mouvement Ewondo6:55 10Qui est fou de qui3:56 11Ah Freak sans Fric8:36 12Motapo4:45 13Soir au village4:03 14Full Up4:31 15Africa Boogie4:41 Disc 31Goro City8:34 2Waka Juju4:47 3Douala Serenade6:23 4Senga Abele8:07 5Choc’ n’ soul5:14 6Baobab Sunset6:57 7Tek Time7:02 8Ça va chouïa5:56 9Mincalor6:58 10El Manicero5:43 11Rumba makossa4:33 12Soul Makossa5:39 | Compilation | 8 June 2004 | |
| 2006 | Essential RecordingsSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 26 tracks · 2:27:02Disc 1 1Soul Makossa4:25 2Ngolowake3:59 3Soul Machine3:02 4Ekedi2:49 5A Freak Sans Fric8:39 6Africadelic2:16 7Oh Koh10:11 8Waka Juju4:49 9Douala Serenade6:27 10Mouvement Ewondo7:09 11Poinciana4:27 12Electric Africa10:27 13Big Blow5:42 Disc 21Africa Boogie4:19 2Manga Bolo5:49 3Motapo4:46 4Abele Dance6:55 5Baobab Sunset6:58 6Bona Sango4:46 7Doctor Bird5:04 8Diboki3:25 9Kumbele Style5:59 10Night Jet6:41 11Goro City8:36 12Iron Wood2:46 13Reggae Makossa6:36 | Compilation | 17 April 2006 | |
| 2009 | Makossa Man: The Very Best OfSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 32 tracksDisc 1 1Soul Makossa 2Big Blow 3Pepe Soup 4Afro‐Soul 5Lagos Go Slow 6Ngolowake 7Soma Loba 8Miss Cavacha 9Bayam Sellam 10Motapo 11Nago Nago 12Groovy Flute 13Walking to Waza 14Soul Sister 15The Panther 16Senga 17Africadelic 18Oriental Sunset 19African Carnival 20Ekedi Disc 21African Boogie 2Ah Freak Sans Fric 3Sun Explosion 4Reggae Makossa 5Bolingo City 6Choc ’n’ Soul 7Bao Bao 8Abelley Sphere 9Dasiko 10Mouna Loba 11Ambiance Tropica 12Yekey Tenge | Compilation | 2009 | |
| 2010 | Choc ’n Soul: 1978–1989 SessionsSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 12 tracks · 1:06:511Choc ’n Soul5:19 2Reggae Makossa (1978 Kingston remix)6:37 3Bushman Promenade5:06 4Mouna Pola5:16 5Africa Boogie4:18 6Douala Serenade6:28 7Happy Feeling6:25 8Night Jet6:44 9Ça va chouïa5:57 10Goro City8:36 11Waka Juju4:49 12Minuit au circuit1:16 | Compilation | 26 July 2010 | |
| 2011 | Ballad EmotionSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 20 tracks · 1:14:151What a Wonderful World2:44 2Cry Me a River4:39 3Funny Valentine4:09 4Over the Rainbow3:51 5Blue Moon3:53 6Misty4:49 7Summertime4:15 8All of Me3:23 9Fly Me to the Moon4:05 10Stormy Weather3:22 11I Got You (I Feel Good)2:44 12In the Midnight Hour3:38 13Fa‐Fa‐Fa‐Fa‐Fa (Sad Song)4:27 14Knock on Wood3:54 15Ballad Emotion3:29 16Dream a Little Dream of Me4:04 17I’ve Been Loving You Too Long3:02 18Satin Doll3:06 19Atmosphère3:27 20Cocooning3:14 | Compilation | 6 June 2011 | |
| 2011 | Afro‐Soul MachineSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 30 tracks · 2:32:23Disc 1 1Bessoka (Version Courte)3:29 2Lagos Go Slow3:49 3Africa Boogie4:17 4A la claire fontaine5:02 5Waka Juju4:49 6Super Kumba8:02 7Manga Bolo5:43 8Du Bush A Bush4:56 9Blowin' Western Mind6:14 10Mboa4:53 11Gombo Sauce5:21 12Negropolitaines7:20 13Pour une poignée de CFA7:18 14The Panther2:29 15Mpuli Mwa Moni3:23 Disc 21Soul Makossa (Manu version)4:25 2Ambiance Tropika4:39 3Mincalor7:00 4Pavane Pour Une Melodie3:41 5Images De Famille4:39 6Soul Fiesta (remix version long)5:46 7Tek Time7:03 8Aloko Party5:02 9Ngosso2:51 10Chok ’n’ Soul5:18 11Kango7:22 12Qui Est Fou De Qui3:59 13Black Beauty2:51 14Reggae Makossa6:37 15Un Soir Au Village4:05 | Compilation | 30 September 2011 | |
| 2020 | Best OfSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 9 tracks · 39:441Soul Makossa4:26 2Hot Chicken4:23 3Wouri3:16 4New Bell6:48 5Night in Zeralda4:36 6Soul Machine3:01 7Je veux être noir3:00 8Dikalo (remix 97)4:08 9Soul Makossa (DJ Flex remix)6:06 | Compilation | 2020 | |
| 2023 | That African Beat, Volume 2Search SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 20 tracks · 1:10:031Gauche / Droite = Débordement3:23 2Laurent Fantôme2:49 3Safari Muzuri4:38 4Africa Boogaloo3:36 5Disipillini Na K.D.L.4:46 6Valentina‐Valentina2:52 7Africa d’ambiance2:27 8Bongaloo La Fontaine3:48 9To zongela dilanda2:50 10Milango2:34 11Nafita bonbon sucré3:39 12Kara Kara3:58 13Barubastie3:20 14Charanga in Paris3:56 15Suzi n’Edo4:02 16Kokolo… Qui est là ?3:27 17Cambridge… Mai Ya Pipo3:11 18Kimbombo Kimbombo3:40 19Congo Soyo3:03 20Essous Soiritou4:04 | Compilation | 15 September 2023 | |
| 2023 | Africa d’ambianceSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 20 tracks · 1:10:031Cambridge… Mai Ya Piyo3:11 2Bongaloo La Fontaine3:48 3Laurent Fantôme2:49 4Suzi n’Edo4:02 5Gauche / Droite = Débordement3:23 6Charanga in Paris3:56 7Kokoko… Qui est là ?3:27 8Disipilini Na K.D.L.4:46 9Safari Muzuri4:38 10Africa Boogaloo3:36 11Kimbombo Kimbombo3:40 12Essous Spiritou4:04 13Nafifa bonbon sucré3:39 14Valentina – Valentina2:52 15Kara Kara3:58 16Miango2:34 17Africa d’ambiance2:27 18Congo Soyo3:03 19Tozongela Dilanda2:50 20Barubatsie3:20 | Compilation | 25 October 2023 | |
| 2025 | Dibango 82Search SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 6 tracks · 37:10A1Migilbawe1:15 A2Africa Boogie11:04 A3Ashiko Oumba9:53 B1Waka Juju part 13:55 B2Waka Juju part 24:23 B3Waka Juju part 36:40 | Live | 3 April 2025 | |
| 2025 | African Jazz invites O.K. Jazz (1961-1970)Search SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 28 tracks · 1:23:571Molinard Danser Cha‐Cha2:49 2Mibali Bakomi Mpasi Na Leo2:43 3Soki Ye Te Nani ? “Carra”2:39 4Amida Asukisi Molato2:50 5Ya Mbala2:52 6Kingotolo Mbuta Ngani Mbote2:55 7Muasi Ya Motema Mabe2:44 8Para Fifi2:40 9Clarie Télé2:46 10Moto Na Esika Na Ye2:51 11Toponaki Bino Boyokana2:45 12Kongo Ya Bankoko2:44 13Kajinga Victorine2:49 14Mama Seba2:45 15Ekoti Ngai Hopitalo2:50 16Pachito Eche2:44 17Mi José2:46 18Bueno Valentina Cha Cha2:48 19Lolango Helena6:04 20Lolaka Lwa Bale3:53 21Lalouma de Belen4:26 22Liwa Ya Emery2:46 23Mboka Mosika Mawa2:49 24Zongela Nzela Na Ngai2:43 25Motema Ya Fa Fa2:47 26Mbanda Mwasi Alingi2:49 27Liwa Ya Champagne2:50 28A Girl I’m Looking For2:50 | Compilation | 2 May 2025 | |
| — | Manu DibangoSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 14 tracks · 1:07:38Disc 1 A1Soul Makossa3:58 A2Kata Kata4:16 A3Rencontre7:00 B1Soukouss5:40 B2Besoka On Salsa7:34 B3Toumba4:00 Disc 2C1Hibiscus6:23 C2Biso3:51 C3Idiba3:40 C4Wasa N'dolo3:58 D1Nights In Zeralda4:38 D2Oa Na Mba3:50 D3Lakisane4:30 D4Wild Man In The City4:20 | Compilation | — |
EP · 1
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Sun ExplosionSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 4 tracks · 31:41A1Anty9:14 A2Matumba7:27 B1Motapo6:51 B2Sun Explosion8:09 | 1978 |
Other · 1
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Joseph Kabasele And The Creation Of Surboum African Jazz (1960-1963)Search SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 29 tracks · 1:19:021Mama Ndonga2:48 2Satchmo Okuka Lokole2:50 3Naboyi Ba Jumelle2:31 4Guidado Colamano2:44 5Miso Emona Makambo2:45 6African Bana Ya Kin2:36 7Aya‐Ya2:31 8Wachiwara2:50 9Matata Masila Na Congo2:51 10To Yokana Tolimbisana Na Congo2:47 11Ma‐Zo ! Dégagez2:54 12Oyeme Querida2:42 13Bana Ya Nwa2:46 14Promenade African Jazz2:30 15Kalejoph Surboum2:45 16Longonia Yaya2:49 17Clair De Lune2:31 18Twist À Leo2:33 19Pachismotou2:48 20Ambiance2:49 21Pasi Die Senorita2:39 22Mutatshi Wa Yombo2:45 23Mwamba Wa Mpatu2:55 24Georgette Ye Ndeko2:44 25Ba Tata Bakenda Kala2:52 26Amor Perdido2:51 27Luna Nokero2:57 28Le Lion Est Mort2:37 29Hallelouia2:22 | 30 June 2021 |
Stats & PK
Percentile within all 23,672 published artists.Put Manu Dibango head-to-head →
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 47 | 96.1th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 107 | 98.1th |
| Studio albums | 52 | 99.3th |
| Awards recorded | 3 | 95.4th |
| Timeline events | 58 | 99.2th |
| Recording span (years) | 58 | 96.8th |
| Genres | 12 | 97.8th |
Awards & honours
| Year | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Knight of the Legion of Honour | won | |
| 2016 | All African Music Legend Award | won | |
| 2024 | honorary doctorate of Polytechnic University of Hauts-de-France | won |
Line-up
| Name | From | To | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| L'African-Team(band) | — | present |
Where this record comes from
portrait—Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:LesEscales2019ManuDibango_03_%28cropped%29.jpgaliases/urls—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/826b488f-5164-45ca-abc4-ab11b3c321ebdiscography—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/826b488f-5164-45ca-abc4-ab11b3c321ebcore—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q445829genre—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q445829seed-list—wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manu_Dibangobiography—wikipedia-en · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manu_Dibango
Why this artist is in the database
- List of funk musicians
Tier rule: historic figure (47 language versions, career ended)
Image: Selbymay · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Wikidata: Q445829 · MusicBrainz: 826b488f-5164-45ca-abc4-ab11b3c321eb
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