DJ Arafat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
DJ Arafathttp://www.explar.com/DJ_Arafat
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Arafat in 2016
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Ange Didier Houon |
| Also known as |
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| Born | 26 January 1986 Yopougon, Ivory Coast |
| Died | 12 August 2019 (aged 33) Abidjan, Ivory Coast |
| Genres | Coupé-Décalé |
Ange Didier Houon (born January 26, 1986 – died August 12, 2019) was a famous Ivorian disc jockey and singer. He was best known as DJ Arafat and had many other stage names. He made music in the Coupé-Décalé style. This music genre came from a traditional dance in the Ivory Coast.
DJ Arafat had many popular songs. Some of his biggest hits included "Jonathan", "202", "Dosabado", "Kpangor", "Zoropoto", and "Enfant Beni". His music became popular beyond Africa. He gained many fans in France during the mid-2000s. This helped him become known around the world. He was seen as an important ambassador for African music.
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Life and Music Career
Ange Didier Houon was born on January 26, 1986. His mother, Tina Glamour, was a popular singer. His father, Pierre Houon, was a musician and sound engineer. He also had an older brother, DJ TV3.
Ange Didier started his music journey very young. He became a DJ when he was only 14 years old. This was in Yopougon, a lively area in Abidjan. He later moved to France to help his career grow. He faced some challenges while living in France early in his career.
His stage name, Arafat, came from the Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. His friends from Lebanon in Ivory Coast gave him this name. They called him "Arafat" because he was "hardcore."
DJ Arafat became one of the most popular African artists. He was especially famous in French-speaking countries. He became a big star in his music style around 2009.
Coupé-Décalé Music Style
DJ Arafat released 11 music albums. Most of his songs were in the "Coupé-Décalé" dance music style. He had a career that lasted fifteen years. The BBC called him the "king" of Coupé-Décalé.
This music style started in the early 2000s. It was during Ivory Coast's civil war. Young people felt sad and needed something to cheer them up. Coupé-Décalé music gave them hope for a better life. This music has fast drum beats and strong bass sounds. It also has vocals similar to hip-hop.
Arafat became a symbol of the flashy and well-dressed lifestyle. This lifestyle is often linked with Coupé-Décalé music. His song 'Dosabado' is one of his most famous hits. He loved motorcycles and showed them in his song 'Moto Moto'. This song came out in May 2019. He had several motorcycle accidents during his life. One accident in 2009 was very serious.
DJ Arafat later became popular in Europe and the United States. Some sports stars helped make Coupé-Décalé dance moves famous. Arafat did not create this music style. However, he helped it become very popular. This led him to gain many fans in West and Central African countries. "Dosabado", "Kpangor", "Zoropoto", "Enfant Beni", and "Moto, Moto" were some of his major hits.
His Death
On August 12, 2019, DJ Arafat died in an Abidjan hospital. This happened after a motorcycle accident in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. His motorcycle hit a car on Sunday, August 11, 2019. He was taken to a hospital in Abidjan. He passed away around 8:00 a.m. UTC on August 12, 2019.
When news of his death spread, about 1,000 fans gathered. They met near the hospital where he died. They mourned his death and chanted, "Arafat cannot die." After his burial, some fans gathered around his grave. Police worked to manage the large crowd. Many fans also gathered around his house. They sang some of his popular songs. Maurice Kouakou Bandaman, the Ivorian Culture Minister, shared his sadness. A special tribute was held to honor DJ Arafat.
Awards and Legacy
DJ Arafat was highly praised in the Coupé-Décalé music world. He won many awards and received much recognition. He won "Best Artist of the Year" twice in a row. This was in 2016 and 2017 at the Coupé-Décalé Awards. This showed how much influence and popularity he had in French-speaking Africa.
These awards proved his important role. He helped bring the Ivorian music style to a global audience. His unique style and dedication changed Coupé-Décalé music. This made him one of the most important artists in the genre's history. He also won two WatsUp TV Africa Music Video Awards in 2016.
Even after his death in 2019, DJ Arafat's legacy lives on. He is still celebrated at African music award shows. He is remembered as an icon of Ivorian music. He remains a lasting influence in the Coupé-Décalé scene.
WatsUp TV Africa Music Video Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Maplôrly | Best West African Video | Won |
| Concert a Korhogo | Best African Performance | Won |
Selected Discography
Singles (partial)
- Kpangor
- Zropoto
- Boudha
- Djessimidjeka
- Agbangnan
- 2017 : "Enfant béni"
- 2018 : "Dosabado"
- 2019 : "Moto Moto"
- 2019 : "Kong"
- 2019 : "Cader" Ft Messi King Dj
Tours
| Name | Dates | Countries visited | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| Réconciliation | July to August 2010 | Cameroon, Mali, Ivory Coast | Gladiator & Roi du Kpangor |
| Moto Moto Tour | August 2019 | Ivory Coast | Renaissance |
See also
In Spanish: DJ Arafat para niños
