Mourning fans gather at Abidjan hospital after news spreads of 33-year-old singer's death.
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| Late DJ Arafat |
"Death of artist DJ Arafat ... today at 8am as a result of a road accident overnight," the broadcaster tweeted on Monday.
According to messages and pictures circulating on social media, he had been driving a motorbike and smashed into a car.
Critically injured, the singer, 33, was taken to an Abidjan hospital, where he later died.
"We are all in shock," Ickx Fontaine, an Ivorian producer and specialist in hip-hop told the AFP news agency.
"He was a real singer and a drummer ... he gave a new breath of life to coupe-decale."
Later on Monday, around 1,000 fans gathered in front of the hospital in Abidjan's Cocody suburb where the singer died, weeping and chanting, "Arafat cannot die".
Who was DJ Arafat?
DJ Arafat, born Ange Didier Houon, was a well-known singer and musician in French-speaking western and central African countries.
Currently he is considered the most popular artists in Ivory Coast, with more than 2.3million subscribers to his Facebook page.
Many insist he coined the genre coupé-décalé, a dance music formed of choppy rhythms and hip-hop style vocals.
Arafat, was born in Cocody, Ivory Coast , to his mum, singer Tina Glamour and dad musician Houon Pierre.
She conjured controversy for her daring performances.
Arafat is well known for his love of motorcycles.
He featured them in one of his latest hits, Moto Moto, that obtained 1million views in less than a day.
In total, Arafat released 11 albums in his career, with his first released in 2000.
Arafat was named best artist of the year at the Coupé-Decalé Awards in 2016 and 2017.
Arafat poses with his award for coupé-décalé singer of year in Abidjan
'Natural charisma'
Born in Abidjan in 1986, the artist, whose real name is 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.
DJ Arafat's fame expanded to Europe and the United States, thanks in part to sports stars who made some of the genre's dance steps popular.
He Arafat was named "Best Artist of the Year" at the Ivorian "Coupe-decale" Awards in 2016 and 2017.
He was born in the music world. His mother was a well-known singer and his father a prominent sound engineer, according to a music manager. He started as a DJ in Yopougon, one of Abidjan's night-life districts.
"He had a natural charisma," said Ozone, a hip hop producer and television host. "He will remain a force for Ivorian and African music."
Ivorian Culture Minister Maurice Kouakou Bandaman expressed his condolences and said a tribute would be held to honour the musician.
The Ivorian musician was in the city of Abdijan when he passed away. Here’s what we know.
AFP OR LICENSORS
DJ Arafat holds his best artist of the year award during the Coupe-Decale Awards in Abidjan, Ivory Coast
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