In Paris, 1997, the capital was a bustling hub for global music. The great figures of African music, such as Manu Dibango, Salif Ke\u00efta, Papa Wemba, Ray Lema, Mory Kant\u00e9 and Isma\u00ebl L\u00f4, led an international music scene. Yet, far from the beaten track and the hustle of the industry, Francis Bebey remained a central reference point for all his famous counterparts. He commanded respect as well as curiosity wherever he went as an undeniable pioneer and a well-kept secret among music lovers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was during this year that the Cameroonian recorded the Dibiye<\/em>, which is now considered one of his best works. Indeed, the record became a touchstone for its era and went on to influence a generation of world musicians, becoming treasured by lovers of Africa and African music, It also offered ample material for samplers of all stripes and gave a \u201cspecialized\u201d sense to the radio in those beautiful days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n