Passion or Profession: musician

Period: 1933–

Born in Douala, Dibango immigrated to France at the age of 15. There he joined a band with fellow future music legend Francis Bebey. Dibango pursued his career as a saxophonist and vibraphone player in Belgium, Congo, and Cameroon before his 1972 album Soul Makossa gave him international recognition. He performs a diversity of styles, which include makossa, reggae, jazz, funk, and blues. In 2004, he was recognized as an “Artist for Peace” by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).