Toulouse (AFP)

"I'm not trying to follow in his footsteps, I trace my path. And his breath is in me".

Son of Manu Dibango, Afro-jazz legend, James BKS makes his way with seductive pop mixing traditional African rhythms and hip-hop sounds.

Disappeared in March 2020 at the age of 86 as a result of the Covid-19, the father figure is nevertheless omnipresent at the son's concert, as part of the Rio Loco festival (until June 20 in Toulouse).

Behind his keyboard, James BKS (for Best kept secret, best kept secret), revisits the Soul Makossa hit and pays tribute to it in front of the public: "Manu allowed me to reconnect with my own story. I was able to give a meaning to my life ".

A sound message from Manu Dibango to his son's address is even broadcast during the concert, adding further to the emotion: "I am very happy for him and I wish him good luck. The road is long".

- Late link with Manu -

Nothing was written in advance, however, for this 38-year-old artist, "reconnected" late with his biological father.

"Privileged" childhood in the Paris region, then at 19 the United States for 10 years with her mother and her "father at heart".

He then dreams of being a basketball player.

But the music catches up with him.

"When my mother really understood that I took music seriously, she revealed to me (the name of) my biological father," he told AFP.

"I grew up in love, I hadn't scratched my story at that level and I felt safe in my cocoon. Maybe I was also veiling my face. I had a balance that I was in. I didn't want to disturb ".

Then everything is linked very quickly.

He was noticed by the label of the American rapper of Senegalese origin Akon then collaborated with renowned artists such as Snoop Dogg and Puff Daddy.

"Nice experience but not as good in terms of business as it seemed. I quickly understood that business was very difficult".

End of the American parenthesis, return to France.

- "The circle was closed" -

Then, after years of "blocking", reunion with "Manu" in a Parisian hotel in 2012: "I heard his voice, his big voice, his big laugh and I understood that I was going to be in front of my destiny".

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But "I wanted to succeed on my own, without using his name. I wanted him to know who I was," adds James BKS, a golden medallion around his neck bearing the image of the pater.

Then "he took me on tour, introduced me to his musicians and I fell + in love + with my father. I had the chance to work with him, to benefit from his advice, from his career. I consider myself very lucky because I could have missed it all ".

"But the music comes later, I have discovered the man. We found a lot of points in common and then he shared his music. And I discovered my roots and Africa. It was a shock, it was in me but it was hidden, asleep. The circle was complete. I felt complete ".

The title "No Unga Bunga" is "special" because it was released a few months after the death of Manu Dibango.

"I wanted to talk about inheritance. Wealth is the time that a person gives you, it is the knowledge that he transmits to you".

In the stands of Rio Loco, his wife and his 4-year-old son watch his performance.

"Transmission is important. I was brought up in a healthy environment, filled with love and that is what I in turn want to spread."

© 2021 AFP