Four Arrested Over the Murder of Prominent Kenyan LGBTQ+ Activist

Prominent Kenyan LGBTQ activist Edwin Chiloba was found by Kenyan authorities on January 3rd.

Kenyan authorities have arrested four suspects over the killing of prominent LGBTQ activist and fashion designer Edwin Chiloba, whose mutilated body was found stuffed in a metal trunk last week.

On Friday (January 6th), authorities arrested Jackton Odhiambo, a 24-year-old freelance photographer who was reportedly a friend of Chiloba. The next day, three more suspects were taken into custody for allegedly disposing of Chiloba's corpse. Last Tuesday (January 3rd), riders near Eldoret town in Uasin Gishu county told police that they saw a metal box dumped by the roadside from a vehicle with a concealed number plate. That metal box contained the remains of Chiloba, who has his eyes gouged out. He was also wrapped in a woman’s dress.

Resila Onyango, a police spokesperson, said that the motive for Chiloba's death was unknown and experts were investigating the issue.

\u201cThis is a frightening crime but it\u2019s becoming common in Kenya - evidence of a growing epidemic of violence in the country.\n\nIn April 2022, SheilaLumumba, a LGBTQ+ Kenya was targeted & brutally killed.\u201d
— KHRC (@KHRC) 1672987585

In a statement, the Kenya Human Rights Commission said that the death of LGBTQ+ activists was becoming a common trend.

"This is a frightening crime but it’s becoming common in Kenya - evidence of a growing epidemic of violence in the country. the Kenya Human Rights Commission stated on Twitter."

Although research has shown that homosexuality is increasingly becoming accepted in Kenya, many Kenyans still view it as abominable. In 2019, Kenya's High Court upheld laws that criminalized gay sex, and in recent years, Kenya's film board banned two films for their portrayals of gay lives. According to galck+, an LGBTQ+ advocacy group, 53% of LGBTQ+ people in Kenya are physically assaulted, and those assaults are only worsened by Kenya's laws against homosexuality, which perpetuate acts of violence. The same report also stated that only 29% of LGBTQ+ persons report an assault to the police because they are often re-victimized if they report crimes committed against them. The death of Chiloba has triggered an outrage among several activists, who are demanding a thorough investigation.

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Asides from being a fashion designer and model, Chiloba was a leading LGBTQ+ activist who used his platform to speak out about inclusivity and gay rights in Kenya. An Instagram post that he made in the December, sums up his legacy. “My movement is for everyone,” the deceased wrote at the time. “It's about inclusion. And if I am going to fight what I have been marginalized for, I am going to fight for all marginalized people.”

\u201cRT @denniskarurii: It\u2019s not about legalizing LGBTQ \u26a7 It\u2019s about criminalizing hate and violence towards the community. RIP Edwin Chiloba\u201d
— #HereForAll (@#HereForAll) 1672995986

\u201c#EdwinChiloba from Kenya was murdered.\n\nMurdered for being who they are, for being different. Murdered for living their truth & for loving who they wanna love.\n\nEnough of hate, discrimination,homophobia, transphobia & genocide against sexual & gender minorities\n\n#EnoughIsEnough!\u201d
— Solome Nakaweesi (She/Her)\u1160\u1160\u1160\u1160\u1160\u1160\u1160\u1160\u1160\u1160\u1160\u1160\u1160\u1160\u1160\u1160\u1160\u1160\u1160\u1160\u1160\u1160\u1160\u1160 (@Solome Nakaweesi (She/Her)\u1160\u1160\u1160\u1160\u1160\u1160\u1160\u1160\u1160\u1160\u1160\u1160\u1160\u1160\u1160\u1160\u1160\u1160\u1160\u1160\u1160\u1160\u1160\u1160) 1673014347

\u201cBoth #ErikaKangela, #SheilaLumumba, #JoashMosoti and now #EdwinChiloba were killed because they believed and unapologeticaly engaged themselves for a more inclusive #Kenya society. \n\n\u26a0\ufe0fHow many others are supposed to be dead for their voices to be heard?\n\n#ProtectQueerKenyans\u201d
— Ubuntu bwa Muntu (@Ubuntu bwa Muntu) 1673016519

\u201cWhat happened to Edwin Chiloba a Kenyan LGBTQ activist is absolutely heart-wrenching. He was murdered and stuffed in a metal box just for unapologetically existing. You will forever be remembered Edwin... Rest in eternal peace.\n#EdwinChiloba #LGBTQIA #Rip\u201d
— Dr Lone Nthobelang (Ph.D.) (@Dr Lone Nthobelang (Ph.D.)) 1673028211

Music

The Best East African Songs of 2022

Featuring Diamond Platnumz, Sauti Sol, Addis Legesse, Nandy, Eddy Kenzo, and many more.

2022 was a groundbreaking year for East African music. We saw many newcomers make their mark and break through the charts, and some OGs try things experimenting with their sounds, with it paying off in the end.

This year we saw the newer generation of East African artists truly separate themselves from their newbie status and become respectable and competitive brands in the region. Artists like Nikita Kering have received local and international recognition culminating in awards, lucrative endorsements and record deals. With the organic growth of their fanbase , local drill duo Buruklyn Boyz arguably were the biggest breakout acts from Kenya. This feat culminated in them even being the face of Spotify Africa’s RADR Africa playlist.

Popular band Sauti Sol focused on their individual solo projects this year from Bien, Savara, Fancy Fingers and Chimano which was refreshing for long time fans of the group. In Tanzania, Diamond Platnumnz continued to reign with his Wasafi franchise and his debut EP, First Of All, which included hits like “Melody” featuring Nigerian singer Jaywillz and “Mtasubiri” featuring his Wasafi bongo princess Zuchu.

In Ethiopia we got to see some exciting new stars with one example being Addis Leggesse who made waves with his single “Enja,” an outstanding Amharic Ethio-Jazz rendition that made heads turn even internationally. Uganda saw a lot of evolution in its music scene, with R&B and hiphop being embraced a bit more besides the usual dancehall that dominates the charts. Hot newcomers like Rickman Rick and Joshua Baraka created massive noise that could not be ignored.

In more unfortunate news, East Africans mourned the loss of one of Rwanda’s most exciting young stars Yvan Buravan who died at the age of 27 while undergoing treatment in India. He sang many memorable and popular hits including “Oya” and “Malaika.” His loss was overwhelming for the Rwandese music community and East Africa as a whole, but his music will forever live on.

In conclusion, this was an evolutionary year for the East in music with a lot of growth in different sectors of the music business. Here are our top picks for the Best East African songs of 2022 in no particular order.