This archive report was first published on 10 August 2019.
August 10, 2019
Tragedy struck Burundi's entertainment scene with the untimely death of six-year-old YouTube star Kacaman, who succumbed to malaria on Thursday, just a day after being diagnosed.
Kacaman, whose real name was Darcy Irakoze, was a primary school pupil who had gained popularity for his comedy sketches both online and in theatres.
According to his manager, Kacaman's last performance was on August 2, where he shared the stage with popular Burundian comedian Kigingi.
His death has sparked a heated debate on the high number of malaria cases in Burundi this year, with the World Health Organization (WHO) reporting over 1,800 deaths and more than five million cases since January.
For context, malaria is one of the main killers of children in Africa, claiming the lives of more than 2,500 children every day, as per the UN children's agency, Unicef.
Health Minister Thaddée Ndikumana disputed the WHO's figures, stating that the country had recorded 4.3 million malaria cases and 1,400 deaths this year, a decrease from 2017 when 4.9 million cases and 4,300 deaths were reported.
