On the night of 11 August 2019, DJ Arafat went for a motorbike ride with friends in Abidjan. He was riding fast and without a helmet when he crashed into a car. He died in hospital the next day. He was 33.
Côte d’Ivoire lost its biggest pop star, and coupé-décalé lost its king.
Who he was
DJ Arafat was born Ange Didier Houon in Abidjan. His mother was a singer, and he grew up around music. He began as a DJ and became one of the leading figures in coupé-décalé, the energetic Ivorian dance music.
Coupé-décalé
Coupé-décalé emerged in the early 2000s among Ivorians in Paris and quickly spread to Abidjan. It is fast, loud dance music with shouted chants and dance challenges, associated with flashy clothes and showing off money.
DJ Arafat took the genre further than anyone, with new dances, big hits and constant reinvention.
The persona
Arafat was known as “Yorobo” and for his feuds, his bold statements and his relationship with his fans, who called themselves the Chinois. His rivalries with other artists were followed closely on social media.
Awards
He won best artist of the year at the Coupé-Décalé Awards in 2016 and 2017 and was one of the most popular performers across francophone Africa.
The funeral
His death caused an outpouring of grief. On 30 and 31 August 2019, tens of thousands of fans packed the 35,000-capacity Félix Houphouët-Boigny stadium in Abidjan for an overnight funeral concert. Stars including Davido, Sidiki Diabaté, Fally Ipupa and Serge Beynaud performed in his honour.
Controversy after death
Days after his burial, some fans broke into the cemetery and opened his grave, saying they wanted to see his body. The incident shocked the country and led to arrests.
A national figure
Government officials, including ministers, attended his funeral events, and the state provided support for the ceremonies. For a coupé-décalé star who had often clashed with authority, it was a sign of how big he had become.
His legacy
Arafat’s music and dances continue to be played at parties across Côte d’Ivoire and francophone Africa. Younger coupé-décalé artists cite him as their biggest influence.
The helmet
After his death, road safety campaigners in Abidjan used his story to urge motorcyclists to wear helmets. For a country that had danced to his songs for fifteen years, it was a painful lesson to learn from its biggest star.
