Vincent Nguini, a guitarist and composer from Cameroon best known for his long tenure in Paul Simon’s band, died on Dec. 8 in Abadiânia, Brazil. He was 65.

The cause was liver cancer, according to Mr. Simon’s manager, Jeff Kramer. He said Mr. Nguini had gone to the city, in central Brazil, to see a spiritual healer.

Mr. Nguini, who performed worldwide with Mr. Simon and recorded extensively as both a studio musician and a bandleader, was a nimble, adaptable guitarist with a quicksilver tone. He came up with playful melodies and intertwining lines that flexed like cat’s cradles.

Mr. Nguini had mastered styles from all around Africa and the Americas and was fluent in jazz, blues, salsa, samba, bikutsi and makossa from Cameroon, highlife from Ghana, juju from Nigeria, soukous from Congo and mbaqanga from South Africa, as well as Mr. Simon’s folk-pop.