Werenoi

Jérémy Bana Owona (; 30 January 1994 – 17 May 2025), known professionally as Werenoi (), was a French rapper. He was voted the male revelation of the year at the ''Les Flammes'' ceremony in 2023. Werenoi held the number 1 position in album sales in France in 2023 and 2024. He released four studio albums and two EPs.

Early life

Jérémy Bana Owona was born on 30 January 1994 in Melun. Little was known about Owona's personal life, due to his desire to keep his personal life and his family matters private. He grew up in Montreuil in a family of Cameroonian origin. He is related to the rapper Zequin.

Musical career

Werenoi released his first song, "Guadalajara", in February 2021, under the name We Renoi. During the year he released several other singles, including "Señor de los Gallos", featuring Lacrim. In May 2022 Werenoi signed a contract with label AllPoints France, announcing the release of his first official project, ''Telegram'', a 12-track EP released on 3 June of the same year. It was then re-released a few months later with two additional tracks, one of which was created together with rapper Ninho. ''Telegram'' was certified gold, whereas the song "Solitaire", featured on it, obtained the diamond certification.

On 23 February 2023, Werenoi released the freestyle "10.03.2023", in reference to the release date of his first studio album, titled ''Carré''. The album featured rappers PLK, Ninho, Tiakola, and Lacrim, and achieved good success, selling more than 18,000 copies in the first week. ''Carré'' turned out to be the best-selling album in France in 2023, ahead of projects by notable artists such as Hamza and Ninho. On 22 September 2023, Werenoi released a new project, the EP ''Telegram 2'', announced the day before its release. He was voted the male revelation of the year at the ''Les Flammes'' ceremony in 2023. Werenoi held the number 1 position in album sales in France in 2023 and 2024.

His second album, ''Pyramide'', was released on 16 February 2024. In May 2024, his album ''Carré'' received the “Rap Album of the Year” award at the Les Flammes ceremony. On 17 October 2024 Werenoi performed at the Accor Arena in Paris.

Werenoi released the second opus of the project, ''Pyramide 2'', on 18 October 2024. Carried by the single "Pétunias" released two weeks earlier, this 14-track extension includes two features: with Gazo on "La famine" and PLK on "En pétard". In November 2024, his label announced the release of his new album for April 2025. Lil Tjay was announced as one of the collaborators. On 24 March 2025, he announced the release of ''Diamant noir'' for 11 April 2025. Other guests include Damso & Ninho, Dystinct, SDM & Vacra, Gunna, and Kalash. In 2025, Werenoi received the award for "Best Album" for ''Pyramide 2'' at the 2025 ''Les Flammes'' ceremony.

Death

Werenoi's death at the age of 31 was announced on 17 May 2025, after he did not appear for an event scheduled the day before. BFMTV reported that he was taken to the Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital in critical condition. The circumstances surrounding Werenoi's death, however, were kept private. ''Le Figaro'', BFMTV, and ''Voici'' also reported that Werenoi had suffered health problems linked to cardiovascular disease; ''The Guardian'' attributed his death to a heart attack. He was buried in Montreuil.

His record label, Believe, confirmed his death on Instagram. His producer, Babs, also posted on X, saying that "All our thoughts go out to his family, loved ones, team, and all those who knew him." "Rest in peace, my brother, I love you." A showcase scheduled for 16 May 2025, the day before Werenoi's death, was cancelled; he was also scheduled to perform on the day of his death. Many personalities paid tribute to Werenoi, including Aya Nakamura, Gims, Kaaris, Jul, SCH, Maes, Lacrim, Pascal Obispo, N.O.S., and the Minister of Culture Rachida Dati. On 19 May, Werenoi's producer Babs denounced the appearance of fake prize pools after Werenoi's death.

In June 2025, a young woman, who presented herself as a companion of Werenoi, filed a complaint against Werenoi's producer. A judicial investigation was subsequently opened for "aggravated theft" and "extortion." The young woman accused Babiry Sacko, "Babs," Werenoi's producer, of assaulting her in a hookah bar, a few days after the rapper's death, to demand a large sum of money, between 1 and 2 million euros."Nous vivons un enfer": l'entourage de Werenoi se dispute sa fortune, une enquête ouverte pour "vol aggravé"

Discography

Studio albums

* ''Carré'' (2023)
* ''Pyramide'' (2024)
* ''Pyramide 2'' (2024)
* ''Diamant noir'' (2025)

EPs

* ''Telegram'' (2022)
* ''Telegram 2'' (2023)

References

External links

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{{Authority control

1994 births
2025 deaths
21st-century French male singers
Black French musicians
French male rappers
21st-century male rappers
French people of Cameroonian descent
People from Melun
Rappers from Seine-et-Marne