The singer ivorian DJ Arafat, star of the coupé-décalé, died Monday at the age of 33, died of a motorcycle accident that occurred in the night, announced the Radio-public Television of côte d’ivoire. “The death of the artist DJ Arafat, whose real name is Houon Angel Didier, Monday, 12 August at 8 pm (local time), as a result of a traffic accident that occurred in the night from Sunday to Monday in Abidjan,” says RTI on his Twitter account.

The artist would have rammed the vehicle of a journalist of Radio Côte d’ivoire, which would still be in hospital according to people magazine Life. earlier in the day, Yves Roland Jay Jay, in charge of the communication of the star was meant to be reassuring in spite of the alarmist rumours. “DJ Arafat goes well!”, had he published on his account Facebook.

The ivorian minister of Culture, Maurice Kouakou Bandaman has presented its “condolences to the family and to music lovers”, and arrangements will be made for “a tribute to the artist,” according to a statement released by the ITRS. “The boy is gone. He lived like a shooting star. We are all devastated. In the style of zouglou, to the international, there is a Magic System. For the cut-off , it was DJ Arafat… It is a great loss to the music of côte d’ivoire”, said A ‘ salfo, the leader of the group Magic System contacted by Jeune Afrique.

Born in 1986, in the district of Yopougon-DJ Arafat was one of the pillars of the style coupé-décalé from more than ten years. “I grew up with my lebanese friends that I have assigned this name because they found that I was a little too hardcore,” he explained in 2014 to France 24. In 2016 and 2017, he won the title of “best artist of the year” at the Awards of the cut-off. His career and his influence outside of the boundaries of Africa had been elevated to the rank of officer of the order of cultural Merit of côte d’ivoire in February. Everything started in 2005 with Tribute to Jonatha n , a clip where you could see, already, on a motorcycle. In France, he had worked with Mokobe on Oulala , Naza on pot-bellied or even Dadju is the brother of Gims, with It is not stolen . As a sign of fate, he signed, in may, its last big success: Moto Moto .

DJ Arafat feat Naza – pot-bellied

The reactions to his death were not slow. The former glory of the selection ivoirienne de football Didier Drogba, he has first brought his support on Twitter to the announcement of the accident. Learning of the death of the star, he posted a photo of the singer on stage on Instagram, accompanied by a multitude of broken hearts. The attacker of Arsenal and the Ivory Coast Nicolas Pépé has imitated his elder a few hours later.

The rapper Naza has also paid tribute to his friend. “My brother, you left too early you my advice. You’re a leader, you was the number 1, and you will always be the number one in cut off. I love you my brother. God keep you”, he said.

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My brother you left us too early thou my counsellor, you’re a leader, you were the number 1 and you always will be the number of the cut shift I love you my brother God keep you @djarafat #unelegendenousaquittez #lemeilleurartisteivoirien

A publication that is shared by NazaOfficiel (@nazaofficiel) August 12, 2019 at 7 :32 PDT

“King of the cut is offset… It is all of Africa who lost someone today…R. I. P”, was published Dadju.

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King of the cut is offset… It is all of africa who lost someone today… R. I. P

A publication that is shared by DADJU (@dadju) August 12, 2019 at 6 :51 pm PDT

Kaaris has also paid tribute to the artist: “Rest in peace my brother”.

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Rest in peace my brother #225 #quelaterretesoitlegere

A publication that is shared by KAARIS (@kaarisofficiel1) August 12, 2019 at 7 :15 PDT

the announcement of the accident and the death of the singer, the crowd pressed in front of the clinic in Abidjan. Dozens of fans gathered, singing the big hits, as was witnessed by the journalist Alexandre Capron.

In its latest “stories” on Instagram, a few hours before the accident, DJ Arafat thanked his fans for the concert the day before and promised a new show helter-skelter for the same evening.