Chart-topping French rapper Werenoi dies aged 31
His record label Believe confirmed the news, writing on Instagram: 'It is with immense sadness that we learned of Werenoi's passing … may he rest in peace.'
The rapper, real name Jeremy Bana Owana, died at La Pitié-Salpêtrière hospital in Paris early on Saturday morning. A cause of death has not been officially announced, though French media have reported him suffering a heart attack.
Owana was born to Cameroonian parents and raised in the eastern suburbs of Paris. After he broke through in 2021 with debut track Guadalajara, three of his four studio albums – 2023's Carré, Pyramide and Pyramide 2 in 2024, and Diamant Noir released last month – topped the French charts. SNEP, which monitors music sales in France, stated that Owana had the biggest-selling album in France in both 2023 and 2024.
As well as collaborating with the cream of the Francophone rap scene, including Aya Nakamura, Damso and Hamza, he also collaborated with major names in the US, with Gunna and Lil Tjay appearing on Diamant Noir.
He had been due to perform in Lyon on the night of his death. Earlier in the week, he had won album of the year for Pyramide 2 at Les Flammes, a French award ceremony honouring the best in rap and other music of Black origin. He was unable to attend and sent a video message showing his arm in a sling, describing a 'a big injury'.
Nakamura and Lil Tjay were among those paying tribute, along with other artists such as Gims.
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