(CNN) — South African rapper Costa Titch passed away suddenly this weekend, his family reported on Instagram hours after performing at a music festival.
The musician, whose real name is Constantinos Tsobanoglou, was 28 years old.
Footage circulating on social media appears to show Tsobanoglou falling onto the stage before being picked up by someone next to him. Tsobanoglou then stands up for a few seconds before collapsing.
“It is with deep sadness that we feel it necessary at this time to acknowledge his passing,” Tsobanoglou’s family said in a post on their Instagram account. “We are grateful to the first responders and everyone who was present during his final hours.”
The statement did not name the cause of death.
The festival he performed at, Ultra South Africa, said it was “devastated” by the young rapper’s death.
“Costa was an inspiring voice in the South African Amapiano scene: a talented rapper, dancer, singer, songwriter, collaborator and friend of the festival,” the statement said.
Tsobanoglou was a rising sensation in South Africa and one of the biggest stars of amapiano, a musical style characterized by deep house, wooden drum-driven basslines and soulful piano melodies. His rap style combines indigenous South African culture, style, and languages with international rap subgenres, such as trap music, that originated in Atlanta’s thriving hip-hop scene.
Born in Nelspruit in north-eastern South Africa, Tsobanoglou had a successful dance career before becoming a rapper.
Tsobanoglou’s song “Big Flexa” made him a star across Africa after his breakthrough on TikTok. The rapper had recently been linked to a music label founded by Senegalese-American musician Akon, who starred in a remix of “Big Flexa.”
Tsobanoglou’s death comes a month after his friend and collaborator, rapper AKA, was killed in a shooting.
CNN’s Joshua Berlinger contributed to this article.