George Barasa

George Barasa (born 1990), known by his pseudonym Joji Baro, is a Kenyan-Canadian activist, musician, singer, and writer. Known for his advocacy for queer individuals, particularly in Africa, Barasa has worked extensively to raise awareness about LGBTQIA+ rights and HIV/AIDS prevention, as well as challenging societal prejudices against queer people. He is also a vocal advocate for HIV/AIDS awareness and the intersectionality of queer, racial, and immigration rights.

Early life and education

Barasa was born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya, but spent much of his early childhood in Bungoma, a rural region located in Bungoma County in the western part of the country. Raised in a deeply religious family, Barasa faced significant challenges reconciling his identity as a gay person with his community's expectations. He later moved back to Nairobi, where he attended college and began to engage more actively in activism.

Career

Early advocacy

Barasa became a key figure in LGBTQ+ activism in Kenya, where he co-founded Kenya’s first queer-friendly church, offering a safe space for queer Christians to reconcile their faith with their sexual orientation. He worked with ''Kuchu Times'', an LGBTQ+ news platform, where he highlighted the challenges faced by queer individuals across Africa, particularly in regions where anti-LGBTQ+ laws are in place.

Controversy with ''The Star''

On May 14, 2011, '' The Star'', a prominent Kenyan newspaper, publicly outed Barasa's sexuality and created false allegations of him allegedly dating a Catholic priest. This triggered significant backlash, both personally and professionally, as Barasa’s family disowned him, and he faced increasing hostility from his town, with some members of his community urging violence against him. Barasa stated that he had never come out; rather, he was outed by the media (that being ''The Star''). In response to this public outing, Barasa also disclosed his HIV-positive status on the channel K24, aiming to raise awareness about HIV and fight the stigma associated with both HIV and homosexuality. Barasa’s decision was groundbreaking in Kenya, where sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are often linked to scrutiny, especially within the LGBTQ+ community. As of January 2023, the video clip of his outing had been removed after it garnered over 58,000 views on Youtube.

Music

Barasa's music often incorporates themes of queer rights and the struggles of being a queer individual. His work blends elements of traditional Kenyan music with modern genres, particularly gospel music, serving as a tool for both personal expression and social change.

On February 15, 2015, Barasa, using the pseudonym Joji Baro, teamed up with singer Noti Flow to form the project hip-hop duo Art Attack. They released a cover of the 2012 single "Same Love" by the American hip-hop duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, featuring singer and songwriter Mary Lambert, under the name "Same Love (Remix)." The accompanying video featured LGBTQ+ activists from across Africa and aimed to challenge negative perceptions of queer individuals on the continent. Although the video faced immense backlash and a national ban in Kenya, Barasa’s participation underscored his commitment to advocating for the rights of LGBTQ+ people in hostile environments.

Personal life

Barasa sought asylum in Canada in 2016 due to the growing threats he faced in Kenya as an openly gay man. Prior to this, he had unsuccessfully sought asylum in South Africa. In Canada, Barasa continued to work with several refugee organizations and participated in initiatives aimed at raising awareness about the rights of LGBTQ+ refugees.

On June 26, 2013, Barasa was featured on the cover of The Wire magazine during its July/August issue while he was an activist at Out in Kenya. He was also featured in a photo exhibition shot by photographer Peter Muller, "Love Is Not a Crime: Our Fight in Africa," in Bilbao, Spain, by Amnesty International, and was the nominee and finalist of the David Kato Vision and Visual-Kaleidoscope Award 2016.

Barasa worked as an intern at the Centre for Human Rights and as a social media manager at the African Men for Sexual Health and Rights (AMSHeR) organization in South Africa. He is currently an undergraduate student at York University in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, for their Human Rights and Equity program, as well as a recipient of the Canadian health website Poz-TO.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Barasa, George
Living people
Kenyan gay men
21st-century Kenyan LGBTQ people
21st-century Kenyan musicians
21st-century Kenyan male singers
Kenyan gospel musicians
Gay singers
Kenyan LGBTQ singers
1990s births
21st-century Canadian LGBTQ people
21st-century Canadian male singers
21st-century Canadian singers
Canadian gospel singers
Canadian gospel musicians
Kenyan activists
Canadian human rights activists
21st-century Canadian musicians