French rapper Werenoi has died at age 31, simply hours earlier than a live performance that was scheduled to happen in Lyon, France.
Per Charts in France, Werenoi – actual title Jérémy Bana Owona – died after being hospitalised, as a consequence of going beneath cardio-respiratory arrest on Saturday morning (Might 17) as we speak. Owona had a live performance scheduled tonight at Lyon’s Azar Membership.
Babs, a good friend and collaborator of Owona, tweeted earlier as we speak in French: “Relaxation in peace my brother I like you!!!”. Azar Membership additionally shared a message asserting his demise to ticketholders in an Instagram publish.
“It was with nice unhappiness that we discovered of the passing of Werenoi, a singular artist and a defining voice of his era, whom we had been to welcome this night to the Azar Membership,” wrote the membership in French. “We keep in mind the expertise, power, and authenticity of an artist who left his mark on his period.”
Repose en paix mon frère je t aime !!!
— Babs -Plr Music (@PlrMusic) Might 17, 2025
Owona has launched 4 albums as Werenoi, with the newest ‘Diamant Noir’ issued simply final month (April 11). The rapper counts over six million month-to-month listeners on Spotify, with ‘Diamant Noir’ marking his first – and sadly, solely – album to debut at primary on the French charts, per Charts in France.
Owona was additionally as a consequence of carry out at Les Flammes 2025 earlier this week, an awards ceremony targeted on French rap and hip-hop.
Nevertheless, he despatched a video message shared by Les Flammes on social media – Owona apologised for his absence, attributing it to an harm, exhibiting the digicam his proper arm in a medical sling. It’s unconfirmed if this harm is linked to his sudden demise earlier as we speak.
French pop singer Pascal Obispo paid tribute to Owona in an interview with La Parisien. In 2023, Obispo collaborated with Owana on a efficiency of the latter’s hit single ‘Camin d’Or’ at Zénith Paris.
The 2 first met by way of Obispo’s son Sean: “My son may be very unhappy and I’m in ache,” Obispo instructed La Parisien. “31 years previous. He was a superb man, very gifted, who had so many issues to do. Peace to his soul and condolences to his household and buddies.”
Obispo, who known as Owona a “actual good man” and “a bit of shy”, additionally revealed that, since 2023, the duo had entertained the opportunity of future collaborations.
“We needed to proceed the journey and do different issues collectively,” Obispo mentioned. “We needed to see one another, I had ready for him stuffed with sounds with a beatmaker. It’s going to keep in a pc…”
Not a lot is understood about Owona’s origins, apart from that he was born within the French commune of Melun on January 30, 1994.
