Singer, Francis Mbappe, pays tribute to Manu Dibango in latest album.

The artist is using his latest album to pay homage to the fallen music icon.
Francis Mbappe who was head of Manu Dibango’s orchestra during his hay days before debuting his own music career revealed that there was need for him to honour the legend who was a mentor and father figure to him in the early years of his career.
He made the declaration during a presser organised Tuesday in Yaounde. 

The event was organised under the auspices of the Network of Cameroonian Cultural Journalists, RJ2C. The association is headed by journalist, Laurentine Assiga.
Speaking during the presser, Francis Mbappe explained that during one of his concerts, he had this strange feeling, which sensed like a revelation from his ancestors that pushed him “to return to his roots to learn everything that concerns culture precisely the African and Cameroonian culture”.
“…that is why I am returning to Cameroon. I have attempted about two or three times to return to Cameroon but for some reason, it didn’t work out. But I am determined than ever and I don’t think there is anything that can stop me from achieving that dream,” he said.
The tribute, he said, was first personal but also to show to the people all over the world that Manu Dibango was a great man who existed.
Francis Mbappe said his message for young Cameroonians is that: “They should not play Jazz but they should play Cameroonian music, African music as that is the key. I don’t imply they should not learn the modern harmony but the most important thing is to play Cameroonian music”.
Why Manu Dibango
On why he chose to pay tribute to Manu Dibango, the artists said: “I think he is someone very important in Cameroon, in Africa and the world”. 
“Manu Dibango died when I was in the United States of America and with the COVID-19 pandemic, I could not do anything and it left me bothered since then,” he lamented.
“I had worked with him in Cuba, he once visited USA and I made him listen to the song which he said he enjoyed. I thought I was going to release the song when he was alive but things turned out differently and he died before I could do so,” the artist explained.
Francis Mbappe said: “I told myself I was going to release it regardless and so I decided to start with our motherland Cameroon”. 
The soul Makossa artist revealed that he needed a lot of courage to be able to carry out this project but was happy that he has been able to produce a song that pays allegiance to Manu Dibango.

The Music Album
Francis Mbappe said the album has many songs but he wants to focus and bring to the lamp light the Tribute to Manu Dibango first, while the others will be released later.
“The album will have about seven songs which are lengthy and some of them include; a song dedicated to my mother, one in which I talk about my village, communication with the ancestors, about love, generosity, communication with others,” he added.
Taking the cue, the Director of the UBUNTU Cultural Centre where the presser was staged, Ruben Binam, urged Cameroonians to embrace and promote their own music and culture.
“The musicians and artists produce good pieces but those who have the power to promote it shy away from doing so and turn to blame the artists,” he said.
He, however, regretted that: “Cameroonian music and its musicians is appreciated everywhere in the world except in Cameroon”.