- Title: Final tribute held for DJ Arafat, the 'King of Coupe Decale' dance music
- Date: 31st August 2019
- Summary: HEARSE IN THE STADIUM (SOUNDBITE) (French) FAN HUGUE MAHAN SAYING: "He made us live moments that we had never lived before in the Coupè Dècalè. We knew Douk Saga, yes, but Daaishi was something else and so to see him go like this today, words fail me. I wanted to pay a last homage to him and be present at his funeral to accompany him in his final home (SOUNDBITE) (French) FAN, ALY ASSANATOU SAYING: "Honestly if I had not come I would not be able to mourn. It was very, very important to buy this ticket and come for this funeral. It helped me and gave me pleasure to see this and at the same time I will now be able to bear this and I will be able to mourn."
- Embargoed: 14th September 2019 11:41
- Keywords: DJ Arafat Ivory coast Funeral people crying for dj arafat music music lovers
- Location: ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST
- City: ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST
- Country: Ivory Coast
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment,Music
- Reuters ID: LVA005AUJTGLJ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Thousands of fans of DJ Arafat, the king of 'Coupè Dècalè' dance music that is hugely popular in Ivory Coast and West Africa, gathered on Friday (August 30) to pay tribute to him in a stadium in Abidjan on the eve of his funeral.
The 33-year old musician whose real name was Ange Didier Huon, died on August 12 in a motorcycle accident.
Musicians from Ivory Coast and West and Central Africa played a concert at the Félix Houphouët Boigny stadium.
Among them were Nigerian Davido and Sidiki Diabate from Mali.
Ivory Coast's presidency organised the vigil and concert in recognition of DJArafat's contribution in promoting culture.
In the early hours of Saturday (August 31) Huon's coffin was carried into the stadium. Music legends dignatories and members of his family passed by the open coffin as some fans wept. The coffin was driven to the Williams Ville cemetery for burial.
(Production: Media Coulibaly, Yvonne Bell, Chiara Rodriquez) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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