Manu Dibango - Past Present Future [English Version] (2015)

For the first time in 16 years, Manu Dibango goes into the studio to create, compose and record new music. He is surrounded by the new generation of talented artists from around the world, such as Wayne Beckford, Passi, Oum, Pit Baccardi, Safehaus etc… Manu has captured each of their musical universes, which gives the album a unique sound. It’s already a classical album in the long and prestigious musical catalogue of Manu Dibango. Past Present Future, the new studio album by Manu Dibango, is a mix of pop – afrofunk – soul – hip hop – electro rock and jazz. A novel album reflecting the changing musical times. Engaged and groovy!

Manu Dibango is the first artist with African origins to be number 1 on the US Billboard with the planetary hit Soul Makossa, recorded in 1972. Rihanna, Jay-Z, Eminem, Jennifer Lopez, Akon, Will Smith, Kanye West, Milli Vanilli. Fugees, Wyclef Jean, Mark Wahlberg, A Tribe Called Quest and of course The King of Pop himself Michael Jackson are on the long list of artists who have sampled Manu Dibango. Manu has released over 35 albums.

Manu Dibango is Cameroon’s, and perhaps Africa’s, best-known jazz saxophonist. Starting in the 1950s, he became a globe-trotting musician, living and performing in France, Belgium, Jamaica, Zaire, and Cote d’Ivoire, as well as in Cameroon. In 1960, Dibango was one of the founding members of the Zairean band African Jazz. World attention came to Dibango with the release in 1972 of Soul Makossa. Dibango’s output has been prodigious and multi-faceted. He has worked with musicians such as Fela Kuti, Sly Dunbar, Robbie Shakespeare, Don Cherry, and the Fania All-Stars. He served as the first chairman of the Cameroon Music Corporation and was appointed a UNESCO Artist for Peace in 2004.