Death of French rapper Werenoi sparks debate about music and Islam

Should an artist’s religion find what happens to their activity erstwhile they die? The decease of 1 of France’s astir successful rappers has raised this question.

French rapper Werenoi, whose existent sanction was Jérémy Bana Owona, died connected 17 May 2025, aged 31. He was France’s apical medium seller successful 2023 and 2024, and his decease shocked some nan euphony manufacture and nan public.

“Rest successful bid my man. A news that saddens maine and courageousness to nan loved ones especially”, popstar Aya Nakamura wrote connected societal media.

Following nan merchandise of his first opus ‘Guadalajara’ successful 2021, Werenoi quickly roseate to awesome success. His 2024 medium ‘Carré’ was named champion rap medium astatine nan Flammes Awards, and he was nan opening enactment for Burna Boy astatine nan Stade de France successful April.

With much than 7 cardinal monthly listeners connected Spotify, he was an illustration of a vibrant francophone euphony segment that keeps increasing worldwide, according to nan platform’s caller study connected francophone content.

Culture curate Rachida Dati called nan rapper “the icon of a generation.”

“In an property of overexposure and ever-present societal media, he had opted for privacy. Cultivating discretion, he revealed himself only done his lyrics”, Dati said successful a connection connected 20 May.

One of nan only known facts astir Werenoi’s backstage life was his faith. The rapper was Muslim.

Mixed messages

In nan hours pursuing his death, debates erupted connected societal media complete what should beryllium done pinch his euphony according to Islam.

“Werenoi was a Muslim, and we induce you to perceive to his euphony arsenic small arsenic possible, retired of respect for his faith," online rap publication Raplume said successful a societal media station that has since been deleted.

“Avoid streaming Werenoi’s tracks, he was a Muslim, it’s for his faith”, 1 personification said connected X. A tribute to nan creator by French rap power position Skyrock elicited akin criticism.

Other fans felt that listening to Werenoi’s euphony was a measurement of paying their respects and ensuring that his bequest lives on.

“When he was alive, Werenoi was making music, going connected Skyrock and trading albums, truthful it's only earthy that erstwhile he dies, nan rap world should salary tribute to him by playing his music”, 1 personification wrote connected X.

The rapper’s squad and relatives person not publically weighed successful connected nan debate, leaving fans to decipher mixed messages.

Werenoi’s euphony videos were removed from YouTube, but nan audio versions still stay disposable connected nan platform.

A root adjacent to nan rapper told French newspaper Le Parisien that nan videos had only been temporarily hidden to let nan family to grieve. Werenoi’s shaper later denied this claim.

Rumours moreover said nan artist’s full discography would soon vanish from each streaming platforms, but this has yet to happen.

“Controversial interpretations”

The teachings of Islam are up to interpretation. Many connected societal media reason that euphony is haram, meaning it is forbidden by Islamic law. Listening to Werenoi’s euphony aft his decease would bring him sins successful his grave.

But nan connection “music” does not really look successful nan Quran and many artists astir nan world are practising Muslims.

“The prohibition of euphony by immoderate branches of Islam is not based connected immoderate statement but alternatively connected arguable interpretations of definite suras and hadiths [statements attributed to nan prophet Muhammad]”, musicologist Luis Velasco-Pufleau wrote successful a 2017 blogpost.

Fundamentalist Islamic movements for illustration Salafism and Wahhabism strictly prohibit euphony while different traditions, for illustration Sufism, are much lenient.

There person been akin controversies successful nan past. The decease successful 2019 of British rapper Cadet, who converted to Islam astatine 15, besides ignited online discussions connected nan early of his euphony - overmuch to nan dismay of immoderate users.

“When anyone other passes distant Muslims will nonstop their condolences arsenic normal... But erstwhile it's a Muslim [rapper] we spell into theological debates astir sharing his euphony etc”, London-based imam Shabbir Hassan posted connected X (then Twitter) astatine nan time.

“Just return a instruction from his decease and make du'a [a Muslim prayer] for him. That will use us/him nan most.”

For some, this mobility tends to beryllium overly politicised.

“It's fascinating really taste topics tin raise this benignant of governmental and belief debates,” streamer iliesomg said connected decolonial YouTube transmission Paroles d’honneur.

He said that listening to Werenoi’s euphony should beryllium a individual determination for Muslim believers, guided by their ain attack to spirituality.

Numbers show that Werenoi’s audience, Muslim aliases not, does not look fresh to fto spell of his art. Sales for his past medium ‘Diamant noir’, released successful April, roseate by 72% successful nan week aft his death, making it nan astir listened medium successful France.