'Soul Makossa Man' exhibition in Cameroon: A tribute to saxophonist Manu Dibango
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00:00As visitors enter the former presidential palace in Yaoundé,
00:04they are met with a portrait of Manu Dibango's signature broad smile.
00:08A welcome that sets the mood at this exhibition in honor of the late saxophonist.
00:14Among all the photos I looked at, it was this one that really made Manu Dibango's personality clearer.
00:21The showcase, dubbed Soul Makosa Man, was organized by Cameroonian photographer Samuel Ndjakwa,
00:27who worked with Manu Dibango for about 20 years.
00:31The pair were also firm friends.
00:35This is not Manu Dibango's retrospective. It's really a meeting between a musician and a photographer.
00:41It's very important because it's a work of memory for me.
00:50The event spotlights many facets of the musician's life.
00:54Set designer Aliu Musa has made the scene come alive to reflect the warmth and welcome for which Manu Dibango was famous.
01:02We have the central photograph of Manu and also all the collaborations.
01:07All these artists with whom he collaborated,
01:11which for me also brings this aspect of sharing to the exhibition.
01:15Many visitors stopping by at the exhibition are happy to revisit Manu's life through pictures.
01:21There was also a guest appearance at the event, New York-based Cameroonian jazz musician Gino Sitson.
01:28He played alongside Uncle Manu like he affectionately called him in the early 2000s.
01:35He was someone who made us dance, who mentored us.
01:39Manu was not just a musician, he was someone who had the science of life.
01:45On the sidelines of the exhibition, Samuel Ndiakwa paid tribute to the famous saxophonist
01:51through a 472-page book supported by the French Institute of Yaoundé.
01:56In the book, we are told Manu Dibango was a unifier.
02:01You know, we're in a society today with people who want to be a musician.
02:06You know, we're in a society today with people who want to burn bridges so much,
02:11who refuse to build relationships, links. Well, Manu Dibango was a unifier.
02:17The photographic exhibition, Soul Makosa Man,
02:20dedicated to Manu Dibango who died in March 24, 2020,
02:24in the midst of the COVID-19 epidemic, ends on August 25.