Mano Negra was a multiracial music band fronted by Manu Chao. The band was founded in 1987 by Manu, his brother Antoine, and his cousin Santiago Casariego in Paris, France. the band was very influential in Europe during the early 90's reaching mainstream in several countries including Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and Italy, afterwards the band tried to independently enter the anglo market with no success, by 1992 the band got involved in different projects in Latin America that now are considered epic adventures, Cargo 92 where the band traveled to several countries by ship and the Train of Ice and Fire that consisted in traveling to the deep and savage countryside of Colombia by train, It split up around 1995, but many members had already left by 1992.

Mano Negra mixed a number of styles: punk rock, flamenco, ska, raï, salsa, reggae and african rhythms. The band, which is still revered on three continents, had been among the pioneers of world music fusion and are a direct influence on countless bands in Europe and South America. The mix of African, Latin and other rhythms is often called mestizo or patchanka (which is the name of one of their albums), Mano Negra is now considered a Cult band and still spreads their spirit to multiple bands around the world.

After the split, Manu Chao who was the leader of the band went to a solo career earning more commercial success due to smoothing his former style into a more friendly and hip sound.