Magic System band member drowns in Ivory Coast

The Ivorian music band Magic System has lost its drummer, 46-year-old Didier Bonaventure Deigna popularly known as Pepito, on Sunday in Ivory Coast.

Another musician death hits Africa; Magic System drummer #Pepito drowns on Sunday in Ivory Coast pic.twitter.com/k0vvgF9Rwn— africanews (@africanews) May 3, 2016

According to the group in a statement on their social media page hours after his death, the musician who has been with Magic System for 16 years “drowned at the small seaside town of Jacqueville.”

The sad event happened a week after the demise of the King of Rumba, musician Papa Wemba, who collapsed on stage and died subsequently in Ivory Coast.

“He died by drowning when he decided to take advantage of the small break we had after FEMUA before we resume out tour in France. Pepito was our backup singer, drummer and the coordinator of Magic System for 16 years,” the group said.

Magic System acknowledged his key contribution to the group during their many concerts worldwide.

“He will forever be in our hearts. Rest in peace “pastor”, as some called him,” they concluded.

Magic System is an award-winning Ivorian musical group founded in 1996 in Abidjan. The group has four members and their music is centred around the Zouglou genre popular in Francophone Africa. They had worldwide hits including Premier Gaou and Cherie Coco.

Magic System, organisers of the Papa #Wemba tribute in #Abidjan, take to the stage… pic.twitter.com/4fnJqZifsW— Tamasin Ford (@Tamasin_Ford) April 28, 2016