Ivory Coast pays last tribute to DJ Arafat, king of the coupé-décalé

In the streets of Abidjan, the Ivorian capital, the emotion is still alive, Friday, August 30, almost three weeks after the accidental death of the icon of the "cut-off" DJ Arafat, his real name Ange Didier Houon , at the age of 33.

Before his burial on Saturday, in Williamsville, north of Abidjan, the "Chinese" nickname given to his millions of fans who followed him on social networks, pay an exceptional tribute to the one who revolutionized Ivorian music.

A giant concert punctuated by testimonies and speeches began at 10 am on Friday at the Houphouet Boigny stadium, which is supposed to host the African Cup of Nations in 2023. The 35,000 seats at the sports arena were not enough to to contain the influence enjoyed by the artist on Ivorian youth.

"We are expecting 100,000 people for the musical funeral that begins Friday," Kenzo Kouadio, chairman of the funeral committee of "Father of the Chinese," said earlier in the day. Screens were therefore installed near the stadium to broadcast the ceremony live and on the national channel Ivorian RTI.

Many stars of the artistic world including Congolese, Koffi Olomide and Fally Ipupa or Nigerians Davido and G Martins were expected. The Ivorian State has decided to pay the cost of the funeral.

"An unprecedented musical heritage"

DJ Arafat dominated for fifteen years the musical movement of the coupé-décalé until becoming one of the greatest ambassadors in Africa. Witness the many international musical awards he proudly displayed. "DJ Arafat lived on the street. He made himself alone. Until being the torchbearer of the coupé-décalé, Ivorian artists. It's really to be congratulated. Not everyone can do that, "says Ivorian rapper Terely on France 24.

Born on January 26, 1986 in the popular district of Yopougon, the enfant terrible of the coupé-décalé, one of the most popular artists in French-speaking Africa, grew up in a family of musicians. Relations with his mother are tense. Tina Glamor, Ivorian singer at the height of her glory in the 1990s was controversial because of the character deemed "obscene and vulgar" of its stage performances.

Early on, DJ Arafat leaves the school and prefers the frenzied evenings of the maquis of the famous street Princess of Yopougon, known for his social affairs, where he offers his DJ services. It is in 2003 that he reveals himself to the public with his first tube "Tribute to Jonathan", another big name of the deceased Ivorian scene.

Then there are successes like '' Kpangor '' (2005), Djessimidjeka (2012), Maplorly (2015) or Dosabado (2018), which are as much dance concepts as "Commander Zabra", another of his many nicknames, creates.

Just before his death, DJ Arafat was promoting "Moto-Moto". The clip has been viewed nearly 6 million times on YouTube.

"DJ Arafat revolutionized the cut-shifted by mixing sounds, rhythms. He was inspired for example by traditional African music, but also Nigerian Afrobeat, rap, Brazilian baile funk. He was also an exceptional dancer and associated with his music new dance concepts, "said Franck Alcide Kacou, label director of Universal Music Africa, the record company that produced DJ Arafat since 2013 at Le Monde. "The artist leaves an unprecedented legacy. I think there will be a before and after DJ Arafat ", he adds on France 24.

Character "whimsical"

Despite the dazzling success of the artist and the millions of views accumulated by his videos on YouTube, the character "whimsical" in the words of Claudy Siar, producer of the show Tropical Colors on RFI did not mean unanimity.

A "bad buzz", susceptible and too excessive, he constantly harangued his five million fans on social networks with clashes against other rivals of the music scene or even old foals backed by the image of Safarel Obiang, Ariel Sheney, rising figures of the coupé-décalé or Serge Beynaud, Debordo Leekunfan.

But for the latter with whom DJ Arafat shared scenes early in the career, the rivalry was only "virtual". "I'm shocked. I can not believe it. The virtual and the reality are two different worlds. DJ Arafat has never been my enemy. He is a brother. We shared a lot of stuff, "Debordo Leekunfan told Ivorian television on the day after the artist's death.

For Claudy Siar, asked about France 24, "DJ Arafat emancipated himself from all the codes, all the good manners that the record industry, the artistic world, and even the media sometimes impose on you. He lived his dream to the point of madness. He was provocative, he did not hesitate to make the buzz. He transgressed all the time. He did not stop having a clash with such artist, such group. And we were following that. But it was DJ Arafat ".

Social networks had also witnessed his many escapades as this video in which, in a state of drunkenness, he had broken a plate on the head of his companion then suspected of having deceived.

"It was someone who had a good heart and that many people could not understand," said Abib Marouane on France 24, one of its managers. "He has always been there for Cote d'Ivoire, for Africa. He made people dance. He was a good person with his qualities and faults ".

Defects that visibly his fans are ready to forgive him with regard to the national tribute that Côte d'Ivoire gives him. It seems that for posterity the country wants to keep only the image of the national artist, who has managed to brighten hearts and offer joy during the dark years.