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A Parisian Square Set to Be Renamed in Honor of DJ Mehdi

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The Editor

© Arte

The announcement was made this Friday, October 9th by Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire. Following a Paris City Council vote, a square in the capital will be renamed to honor the DJ from Gennevilliers in the Hauts-de-Seine (92), who tragically died in an accident in 2011.

It's been over 15 years now since Mehdi Faveris-Essadi, aka DJ Mehdi, left us at the age of 34. On September 13, 2011, he passed away following a tragic fall from a glass roof, leaving behind an enormous void in the international music landscape, French, and especially Parisian. Today, the city is keen to pay tribute to him by naming a square after him.


A tribute from the city

Last Friday, Paris mayor Emmanuel Grégoire received at City Hall the family and loved ones of Mehdi Faveris-Essadi. A «moment of emotion», according to his words published on X, during which he was able to announce to them the future name change of a square in the capital in order to pay a final tribute to the producer

r. While the location is being kept under wraps for now, we do know that the chosen esplanade is located in the 11th arrondissement, and that the inauguration will take place in spring 2027. A plaque will be placed at the chosen site, presenting him as a « visionary musician, composer, and producer, an unparalleled bridge between hip-hop and electronic music».


A Living Legacy

For Paris's mayor, this square will be a way to highlight DJ Mehdi's unique influence on the Parisian music scene, celebrating an artist whose work " is today an integral part of France's musical heritage ", according to the mayor's words. To justify the choice of the 11th district, Grégoire draws a connection between the musician's story and that of the neighborhood: " They speak of creation, of cultural mixing, of emancipation and freedom ". He also reminds us that Mehdi Faveris-Essadi, born of a Tunisian mother and a French father, made this blendmixture of cultures, influences and sensibilities a creative force, just like what the capital strives to achieve day after day. And while waiting to learn more about the chosen location, go ahead and rewatch the fabulous Arte documentary !