Tributes after top West African singer DJ Arafat dies in crash

DJ Arafat, an Ivorian singer with a huge following in francophone Africa, has died after a road accident in Abidjan, evoking a wave of tributes to the award-winning star of the "coupe-decale" dance genre.

"Death of artist DJ Arafat... today at 8am as a result of a road accident overnight," Ivory Coast state broadcaster RTI announced on Monday.

Hundreds of fans gathered on Monday, weeping and chanting "Arafat cannot die" outside the hospital in Abidjan's Cocody suburb where the 33-year-old singer died, AFP reporters at the scene said.

 
DJ Arafat holds his best artist of the year award during the Coupe-Decale Awards in Abidjan.

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

Born in Abidjan in 1986, DJ Arafat -- real name Ange Didier Huon -- had a massive audience in French-speaking western and central African countries.

He issued 11 albums, mainly of "coupe-decale" -- a dance music form combining rapid percussion, choppy rhythms with hip hop-style vocals.

"We are all in shock," Ickx Fontaine, an Ivorian producer and specialist in hip hop told AFP. "He was a real singer... he gave a new breath of life to coupe-decale."

Houon Ange Didier aka DJ Arafat died following a car accident in Abidjan.

Ivorian football star Didier Drogba, a former Chelsea and international player, posted a picture of DJ Arafat on his Twitter account with a heart symbol.

According to the Ivorian news site Alerte-Info, hundreds of fans crowded outside the star's home singing some of his hits.

DJ Arafat was named "Best Artist of the Year" at the Ivorian Coupe-Decale Awards in 2016 and 2017.

"He was a legend of Ivorian music. He gave concerts all over Africa," said Ozone, a hip hop producer and television host. "He had a natural charisma.. He will remain a force for Ivorian and African music."

Agence France-Presse