The artist Mitali Raphael, known by his stage name Natty Dread, passed away on the night of June 13, 2025, after battling cancer.
His death was confirmed by one of the children he supports in Kigali, although the person noted they did not have detailed information.
Natty Dread had been undergoing cancer treatment in Germany since being diagnosed in September 2022. He had recently shown signs of recovery and even returned to Rwanda in February 2024, where he attended a film screening about the life of Bob Marley.
Born in Uganda in 1969, Natty Dread’s family later relocated to Kenya. He became widely known for his song “Hobe Rwanda”, and was the first international artist to perform in Rwanda after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
A citizen of Israel, he leaves behind seven children from four women.
