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DJ Arafat, star of Ivorian coupé-décalé, died on August 12, 2019 at the age of 33 in a motorcycle accident. The play provoked great emotion across the country, and a national tribute was paid to him at the Félix Houphoud-Boigny stadium in Abidjan. Three years later, the singer remains in memories in Cote d’Ivoire.
With our correspondent in Abidjan, Eun Korle
In Angre, north of Abidjan, three young Ivorians photograph themselves in front of an erected stele. As a tribute to DJ Arafat, at the site of his fatal motorcycle accident. In Abidjan, no one forgets King of Koupe-Dekale. His music is still in Ivorian clubs. 28-year-old Zapata, aka Mohammed Khalifa, even proudly wears a tribute T-shirt with a photo of the man nicknamed “Daishigan”:
” DJ Arafat was a great man, a legend. The day his death was announced… (Chip) It is not easy. Here in the neighborhood, with my friends, when we saw this on Facebook, we couldn’t believe it. We went to his house in Angare. It wasn’t easy. »
Next to Stell is T.J. One of Arafat’s favorite spots is Selfie Bar, where he drinks cocktails with his friends. Mohammed, the bartender, will never forget the artist: ” It is a monument to Africa, to the Ivorians. Thanks to him, our music is now known almost everywhere. Listening to his music, we tell ourselves that he is not gone, he is still there. He always brings joy and he is unforgettable. Every year should be celebrated. »
DJ Arafat, nicknamed “the Chinese” by his fans, disrupted traffic with their motorbikes in the Angré district on Friday, the anniversary of his death. And promised to honor him like this every year.
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