African footballers mourn DJ Arafat

According to BBC Afrique, he was a highly celebrated and accomplished Coupe Decale Artist.

DJ Arafat, an Ivorian singer with a huge following in francophone Africa, has died after a road accident in Abidjan, state broadcaster RTI said yesterday.

The 33-year-old was rushed to the hospital and admitted in the Intensive Care Unit following the Sunday night accident.

DJ Arafat, real name Ange Didier Huon, was born in Adidjan in 1986 and released 11 albums during his career, which mainly focused on the "coupe-decale" form of dance music, which puts together quickfire percussion, choppy rhythms and hip hop-influenced vocals.

According to state broadcaster RTI, DJ Arafat was riding his motorcycle when he smashed into a vehicle.

Award-winning Ivory Coast DJ Arafat following is dead. He had a skull fracture and oedema.

He had referred to himself as the king of the dance music genre coupé-décalé.

Reacting to the news, several celebrities joined hundreds of internet users across the continent to mourn the departed artiste.

Former Premier League star Asamoah Gyan wrote: RIP @djarafat hmmm life.

"Rest up" Nigerian singer and producer Runtown tweeted.