French rapper Werenoi dies hours earlier than live performance, aged 31
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, because of going underneath cardio-respiratory arrest on Saturday morning (Could 17) as we speak. Owona had a live performance scheduled tonight at Lyon’s Azar Membership.
Babs, a pal 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 dying to ticketholders in an Instagram put up.
“It was with nice disappointment that we realized of the passing of Werenoi, a singular artist and a defining voice of his technology, whom we have been to welcome this night to the Azar Membership,” wrote the membership in French. “We keep in mind the expertise, energy, and authenticity of an artist who left his mark on his period.”
Repose en paix mon frère je t aime !!!
— Babs -Plr Music (@PlrMusic) May 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 because 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 digital camera his proper arm in a medical sling. It’s unconfirmed if this harm is linked to his sudden dying 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 via Obispo’s son Sean: “My son could be very unhappy and I’m in ache,” Obispo instructed La Parisien. “31 years outdated. He was a great man, very gifted, who had so many issues to do. Peace to his soul and condolences to his household and associates.”
Obispo, who known as Owona a “actual good man” and “somewhat shy”, additionally revealed that, since 2023, the duo had entertained the potential for 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 is going to keep in a pc…”
Not a lot is thought about Owona’s origins, apart from that he was born within the French commune of Melun on January 30, 1994.