DJ Arafat -- Photo via @djarafat on Instagram
Pioneering Ivorian musician DJ Arafat passed away on Monday in a hospital in Abidjan after being involved in a motor accident.
The 33-year-old, who is widely regarded as the “king” of coupé-décalé dance music, suffered a fractured skull after he rammed his bike into a car the day before, BBC reports.
News of his death was followed with tributes from colleagues in the entertainment industry, as well as, other well-known personalities, with President Alassane Ouattara leading the way.
“It is with great sadness that I learned of the premature passing of Houon Ange Didier “DJ Arafat” Youth Icon and ambassador for Ivorian music and culture. I extend my sincere condolences to his mother, his children, his biological and artistic families as well as to all his fans. My prayers are with them during this painful ordeal,” Ouattara shared on his Facebook.
Former Ivorian football star Didier Drogba also paid tribute to him on his Twitter page.
Born Ange Didier Houon, DJ Arafat, an avid bike rider, was arguably one of the biggest music exports from Ivory Coast, winning artiste of the year at the Coupé-Decalé Awards in 2016 and 2017.
Coupé-Décalé, which means “cut and run”, is a flashy and upbeat dance music genre which gained prominence in the West African nation in the early 2000s during the civil war.
DJ Arafat is widely regarded as one of the faces of the rapid percussion music genre.
To celebrate his legacy, Face2Face Africa shares with you 10 of his greatest hits:
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