Afro-jazz star Manu Dibango dies of coronavirus

Veteran Afro-jazz legend Manu Dibango died Tuesday after contracting the new coronavirus, one of the first worldwide stars to succumb to the disease.

The 86-year-old Cameroonian, best known for the 1972 hit "Soul Makossa", "died early this morning in a hospital in the Paris region," his music publisher Thierry Durepaire said.

A message on his official Facebook page confirmed that his death had come after he contracted COVID-19.

"His funeral service will be held in strict privacy, and a tribute to his memory will be organized when possible," the message said.

"OH NO NOT YOU MANU DIBANGO," Senegalese singer Youssou Ndour wrote on Twitter. "I don't have the words to express all my sadness."

French culture minister Franck Riester also paid tribute to him on Twitter.

"The world of music has lost one of its legends," he wrote. "The generosity and talent of Manu Dibango knew no frontiers."

The saxophonist was one of the pioneers of Afro jazz and also fused funk with traditional Cameroonian music.

But it was the 1972 release of "Soul Makossa" that launched him internationally: New York's DJs couldn't get enough of the stripped-down, syncopated sound.

That was his ticket to take his sound to the legendary Apollo theatre in Harlem and then tour in the southern states of the United States.

His legal dispute with Michael Jackson was launched when the pop legend sampled "Soul Makossa" without his permission. The row was only resolved after a long legal battle.

By then however, "Papy Groove" (Grandpa Groove) was an international star in his own right.