This archive report was first published on 31 August 2019.
On August 31, 2019, thousands of fans in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, came together to pay their respects to the late Ivorian musician DJ Arafat, who tragically passed away in a motorcycle accident earlier that month.
As part of the tribute, hundreds of Ivorian artistes took part in a stadium concert, with President Alassane Ouattara among the mourners. The event was made possible after an online petition called for the use of Félix Houphouët Boigny stadium, which has a seating capacity of 35,000 people.
The Ivorian government also contributed KSh 2.5 million towards the event and pledged to cover the costs of DJ Arafat's funeral ceremony.
With a career spanning 15 years and 11 albums, DJ Arafat had become a household name in the Francophone world, particularly for his hit song 'Moto Moto', which featured his love of motorcycles. He was also known for his energetic performances and was named best artist of the year at the Coupé-Decalé Awards in 2016 and 2017.
However, DJ Arafat's life was not without controversy, with allegations of domestic abuse and a reputation for clashing with other artists on social media.
