South African singer Costa Titch has died after apparently collapsing on stage during a concert performance at the weekend.
The rapper, whose real name is Constantinos Tsobanoglou, is 28 years old.
Tsobanoglou performed at Ultra South Africa in Johannesburg on Saturday. Video footage of his set was shared on social media, showing the rapper seemingly collapsed on stage. Someone next to him picked him up but after a few seconds, he seemed to fall again and fell down from the stage.
His family shared a tribute on the rapper’s Instagram page on Sunday which read: “Death has knocked on our door. We have been robbed of our beloved son, brother and grandson of Constantinos Tsobanoglou, who was loved and admired in South Africa under his stage name ‘Costa Titch.'”
The family has not released a cause of death.
“We are grateful for the emergency responders and all those who participated in his final hours on this earth. As a family we are going through a difficult time as we try to understand what has happened to us and ask that we have time and space to gather ourselves,” said the information.
“Thank you to the Tsobanoglou family for the love and support you gave to our son and to continue to lift him up in spirit,” the tribute continued. “Please, keep us in your prayers and be lifted up to the Lord.”
Ultra South Africa said in a information Sunday: “We are deeply saddened by the sudden death of beloved South African artist Costa Titch, who tragically passed away this weekend.”
The festival remembered the artist as a “talented actor, dancer, songwriter, collaborator” and “a dynamic voice among South African artists.”
“Our deepest and most sincere thoughts are with his family, friends, and our entire community who are grieving this tragic loss,” the festival said.