A rising Kenyan fashion designer, stylist, model, and LGBTQ+ activist, Edwin Chiloba was best known for his striking personal style and vibrant presence on social media. But beyond just his creativity and flair, he also stood as a bold and visible figure in a country where LGBTQ+ identities largely remain criminalized. From his rural upbringing to his growing national prominence, Chiloba used fashion not just as a form of self-expression, but also as a tool of resistance—challenging societal expectations and asserting the right for queer Kenyans to live freely and authentically. Through his extravagant designs and eye-catching personal image, Chiloba made powerful statements about beauty, worth, and queer survival. His public presence radiated both confidence and joy, even as it deeply defied entrenched norms around gender and identity in his home country. At a time when he was just beginning to build a career and make a name for himself across Kenya, Chiloba’s life was tragically cut short under devastating circumstances. But today, Chiloba’s legacy endures as a symbol of both the possibility and the danger of living openly and unapologetically queer in Kenya.
All tagged Kenya
Remembered as an iconic name in Kenya’s literary history, Binyavanga Wainaina’s voice remains relevant in his most famous satirical works as well as through his pan-African values. His nonfiction writing captured attention from around the globe as he dug his roots deeper in Kenya. An avid reader, he knew better than many the failings of the wider world in discussions of the wide continent of Africa, and he railed against them. Challenging stereotypes about African cooking, pointing out flaws in the very awards he applied for, and facing the failures of a larger literary world with equal parts humour and scathing heat.
2023 has been an incredibly difficult year, but as we've written before, there are bright spots that are worth recognizing. As we push for safety, recognition, and support for our community in 2024, we can use this year's victories to guide us. We'd love to hear your highlights for the year too!
It’s easy to view history as a single continuous line of progress, especially when looking at it through a queer lens. This, however, ignores the complexity of real cultures and beliefs. This approach to history often exists as a comfort from the harms of modern society, highlighting the growth and change for marginalized people today.
Reality continues to be much more complex and beautiful. Though some may take comfort in the idea of a steady uphill climb, neither the caverns and dips nor the steep spikes of our past and future are without precedent. Sometimes these changes come from the embrace of tradition and cultural values that have been forgotten or erased from popularity. One well-maintained tradition, though it does not fit into the modern narrative of queerness and growth within the country, is Kenya’s custom of women-to-women marriages.