Ivory Coast music star DJ Arafat killed in road crash

Source: France 24

August 12, 2019 at 12:05

Issouf Sanogo, AFP | Ivory Coast's musician DJ Arafat holds the award for best artist of the year during the Coupé-Decalé Awards in Abidjan on October 2, 2017.

DJ Arafat, an Ivorian singer with a huge following in francophone Africa, has died after a road accident in Abidjan, the state broadcaster RTI said on Monday.

"Death of artist DJ Arafat... today at 8am as a result of a road accident overnight," it tweeted.

[Nécrologie]?? Décès de l'artiste DJ ARAFAT de son vrai nom Houon Ange Didier ce lundi 12 août à 8 heures, des suites d'un accident de la circulation qui s'est produit dans la nuit du dimanche 11 août à Abidjan.#RTIinfo @RTIOfficiel pic.twitter.com/GRxkh531Vg
— RTI Info (@RTI_info) August 12, 2019

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.

Born in Abidjan in 1986, DJ Arafat – real name Ange Didier Huon – was avidly followed in French-speaking western and central African countries.

He issued 11 – albums, mainly of "coupé-décalé" – 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.

(AFP)