French Rapper Prince Waly Dies at 34 After Long Illness

Moussa Magassa, the French rapper known as Prince Waly, has died at the age of 34, his relatives announced. The death followed a long illness, according to those close to him. In September, the artist had publicly stated that he was suffering from a rare autoimmune disease. Several years earlier, in 2019, he had lost his voice for months before recovering from a cancer of the thymus. Born Moussa Magassa, he released multiple EPs over the course of his career as well as an album in 2022. His relatives confirmed the death, which was reported by Le Monde on October 5, 2026. The announcement did not specify the place of death or further medical details. Prince Waly's career spanned French rap, where he was known under his stage name while maintaining a personal history marked by serious health struggles. His 2019 illness, a thymus cancer, had temporarily silenced him as a performer before he recovered. The rare autoimmune condition he disclosed in September represented a subsequent and ultimately fatal health battle. The news of his death at 34 places him among French rap figures whose careers were cut short by illness. His discography includes several EPs and the 2022 album, released before his health deteriorated. The statement from his relatives, relayed in the French press, confirmed the cause as the long illness without elaborating further. No funeral or tribute details were included in the announcement.