Rwandan rapper Jay Polly is dead

Rapper Jay Polly.

© Youtube screenshot / Jay Polly

Text by: RFI Follow

3 min

Rapper Jay Polly, real name Joshua Tuyishimiye, died last night.

The 33-year-old man died at Muhima hospital in Kigali where he was transferred in critical condition.

No explanation has yet been given on the circumstances of his death.

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The announcement of his disappearance causes immense emotion in

Rwanda

, especially on

social networks

.

On Twitter, messages are pouring in: " 

Rest in peace

 ", " 

our legend has disappeared

 " or " 

you gave us good vibrations through your music 

".

A true rap star, he sang in Kinyarwanda.

When he arrived at 3 a.m. on the night of Wednesday to Thursday at Muhima hospital in Kigali, he was in critical condition, Pascal Nkubito, director of the hospital, told AFP.

Doctors were unable to revive him and he was pronounced dead about 30 minutes later.

Cause of death unknown

The rapper allegedly consumed a mixture of methanol disinfectant, sugar and water, according to a press release from the prison services.

Jay Polly had been in detention since last April after being arrested during a prohibited party circulating narcotics.

On Wednesday, his trial for drug use was set for December 2 and during this hearing, the rapper asked to be released from prison, arguing that his pre-trial detention had expired.

A request rejected by the Rwandan justice.

This disappearance in still undetermined circumstances echoes that of another musician:

Kizito Mihigo

.

Died on February 17, 2020, also in detention.

He had committed suicide, according to Kigali, which has always rejected calls for an independent investigation into the circumstances of the death of the gospel singer.

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