Remembering DJ Arafat – six essential songs

Arafat released many hits in Ivory Coast and beyond throughout his 15-year career. A multi-talented producer, singer, composer and arranger, he never stopped innovating his music by incorporating other genres and sounds such as zouglou, ndombolo and rumba.

As tributes continue to pour in for the late artist, below are six songs that defined his incredible career:

Hommage à Jonathan

Released in 2003, this song is credited as launching DJ Arafat's successful career. The song is dedicated to Jonathan, an Ivorian musician who also died in a motorcycle accident. The song was later included in the album Renaissance, released in December 2018.

Djessimidjeka

'Djessimidjeka' is a song from Arafat' album Gladiator released in 2010. In the song, DJ Arafat disses his detractors by saying "You tried to kill me but I'm still alive", most probably referring to an accident he was involved in in October 2009.

Kpankaka

In 2012, DJ Arafat made his long-awaited comeback with 'Kpankaka', the title track of his album released that year. In 2012, he also won two Kora Music Awards for Best African Artist of the Year and Best Male Artist in West Africa.

Gbobolor

In March 2015, DJ Arafat released the video for 'Gbobolor'. The video was an instant hit and quickly reached a million views on YouTube. A year later, he released the mixtape Yorogang that included a collaboration titled 'Pour les Fans” (For the Fans) with Malian kora player Sidiki Diabaté.

Enfant Béni

In 'Enfant Béni' DJ Arafat recounts his difficult childhood. "I grew up on the street / My dad was not even around / I grew up on the streets without friends," he sings. In the song, he motivates those going through difficult times to never give up and to always stay strong. The single, released in 2017, is an excerpt from Renaissance, his last album.

Moto Moto

This is DJ Arafat's last single, released three months ago, in which he sings about his passion for fast motorbikes.