DJ Arafat Dies

Ivorian DJ Arafat died on August 12 as a result of injuries sustained in a traffic accident on Sunday evening. 

According to Ivorian Radio-Television (RTI) the musician was out with a group of friends riding motorbikes in Abidjan.

Arafat’s spokesperson Yves Jay Jay has refuted rumours that alcohol and drugs were involved in the collision between the DJ’s bike and the car of a journalist from Radio Côte d'Ivoire.

The 33-year-old, whose real name was Houon Ange Didier, is credited as being the king of the coupé-décalé (“cut and run”) genre of music. He was named best artist of the year at the Coupé-Decalé Awards in 2016 and 2017. 

Fellow Ivorian rapper Kaaris and Nigerian star Davido are among those to have already paid tribute to the late singer.