Tanzanian musician Sefu Shabani, widely known by his stage name Matonya, has been charged with rape in Kenya, prosecutors said.
The 43-year-old denied the allegation when he appeared before a court in the coastal city of Mombasa, according to a statement from Kenya’s Director of Public Prosecutions.
The court granted him bail set at 500,000 Kenyan shillings ($3,900) and ordered him to surrender his Tanzanian passport, as authorities seek to ensure he remains within the court’s jurisdiction.
Prosecutors said the alleged assault took place on Tuesday at an apartment in Nyali, a beach resort area in Mombasa.
Immigration authorities have been instructed to place an alert at border points to prevent the artist from leaving the country, the prosecution said.
Matonya is a well-known figure in East Africa’s “bongo flava” music scene, a genre originating in Tanzania that blends Swahili lyrics with urban rhythms and influences from traditional taarab music.
He rose to prominence more than a decade ago and remains a popular performer across the region, with several hit songs to his name.
Authorities in Tanzania have not yet commented on the case.
The charges have sparked debate on social media and within Tanzania’s music industry, with some calling for due process while others stress the seriousness of the allegations and the need for accountability.