Source: Bombers de Barcelona
11.11.2019
PRESS TEXT
Grace Munene visits the LGBTI Centre
The Kenyan artist and LGBTIQ activist is the first participant in the ‘Safe Haven Residencies’ programme by Artists at Risk (AR) and #NoCallarem.
Coinciding with her visit to Barcelona, Grace Munene (Lamu, Kenya, 1982), MC, poet and LGBTIQ activist, is visiting the LGBTI Centre on Tuesday 12 November (7 pm) to talk about her career and her stay in the city. The artist will be taking part in a discussion with the head of Global Justice at Barcelona City Council, David Llistar, in a session which also involves representatives from Artists at Risk, Moviment Panafricanista Foja, #NoCallarem and Konvent.
Grace Munene, better known as Grammo Suspect – Rainbow Ambassador, was the first resident artist on the ‘Safe Haven Residencies’ programme at the Konvent de Berga, an initiative driven by the Artists at Risk collective and #NoCallarem Barcelona.
While her first disc came out in 2009, her commitment to the defence of LGBTI rights came to the fore in 2015 when Munene released the album Embrace Diversity, centring on issues which affect the LGBTIQ community in her native Kenya, in Africa and the whole world.
As an LGBTIQ artist, Grammo Suspect has suffered discrimination and abuse from the police, street gangs and the music community. Songs such as Our Love is Valid have challenged conservative values in Kenya but also provided a chance to fight for many people who suffer due to their sexuality.
Despite her music being banned on Kenyan radio, the artist continues to inspire numerous people and stand firm in her fight for LGBTIQ rights.