Home Top African musician DJ Arafat dies in road accident

Top African musician DJ Arafat dies in road accident

According to messages and pictures circulating on social media, he had been driving a motorbike and smashed into a car

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August 12, 2019

In this file photo taken on October 2, 2017 Ivory Coast's musician DJ Arafat holds the award for best artist of the year during the Coupe-Decale Awards in Abidjan. - Houon Ange Didier aka DJ Arafat died following a car accident in Abidjan on August 12, 2019, the Ivorian public Radio and Television (RTI) announced. (Photo by ISSOUF SANOGO / AFP)

DJ Arafat, an Ivorian singer with a huge following in many parts of Africa, has died after a road accident in Abidjan, the state broadcaster RTI said on Monday. “Death of artist DJ Arafat… today at 8 am as a result of a road accident overnight,” it tweeted.

According to messages and pictures circulating on social media, he had been driving a motorbike and smashed into a car. Critically injured, he was taken to an Abidjan hospital, where he later died.

Ivory Coast's singer DJ Arafat in Auto Crash — Ivory Coast’s singer DJ Arafat poses with his award for the best coupé-décalé singer of the year on October 16, 2016, in Abidjan. (Photo by ISSOUF SANOGO / AFP)

Born in Abidjan in 1986, DJ Arafat – real name Ange Didier Huon – was avidly followed in French-speaking western and central African countries. He recorded and released 11 albums, mainly of “coupe-decale” – a dance music form combining choppy rhythms with hip-hop-style vocals.

Ivorian Culture Minister Maurice Kouakou Bandaman expressed his condolences and said a tribute would be organised to honour the musician.

Author

Bernard Akede

Bernard Eghieobome Akede is Head of Reportorial at News Central TV, a seasoned broadcast journalist and media trainer. Since joining News Central at its early stages, Bernard has been instrumental in creating the station’s editorial identity, leading teams that have reported from conflict zones, political hotspots, international summits, and grassroots communities across the continent and beyond.