Ivorian singer Essy, formerly known as Josée de Latour, is mourning the loss of her father, who passed away on Sunday, May 11, 2025, in the late afternoon in Ivory Coast.
The artist has been struck by a deep personal tragedy. Her father’s death has prompted an outpouring of support from fans, fellow artists, and loved ones.
From Josée de Latour to Essy
This loss comes at a pivotal moment in Essy’s career, as she continues to make headlines following a major shift in her musical journey. The singer, known for her captivating voice, recently changed her stage name from “Josée de Latour” to simply “Essy.”
A well-considered and deliberate decision, as she explained during her appearance on the television program Week-end Carrefour. Contrary to rumors, the name change has nothing to do with fellow singer Josey or her former best friend Daysie, who had merely suggested alternate spellings of “De Latour.”
“I didn’t change my name because of Josey or because of Daysie Frangine. Daysie had just proposed different spellings for ‘De Latour,’ which wasn’t even what I ended up choosing. I changed my name simply because ‘De Latour’ sounded too Western. ‘Essy,’ which is my Ebrié name, is also used in some regions of Ivory Coast. It feels more Ivorian and even African, since the name exists in other countries like Benin,” she explained.
Through this change, Essy aims to reconnect her art with her roots and give it broader, more universal meaning—deeply grounded in her African identity.