Tanzanian musician Sefu Shabani, popularly known as Matonya, has been arrested and charged with rape in Kenya.
The 43-year-old denied the charge when he appeared in court in the coastal city of Mombasa, according to Kenya's Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
He has been granted bail set at 500,000 Kenyan shillings (approximately $3,900) and ordered to surrender his Tanzanian passport.
Matonya is widely recognized for his 'bongo flava' music—a genre that blends romantic melodies with urban beats and often features Swahili lyrics, influenced by traditional taarab music from the East African coast.
Having risen to fame around 15 years ago, Matonya remains a popular performer in East Africa, known for songs such as Vaileti, Anita, Siamini, Taxi Bubu, and Mapito.
During the court hearing, prosecutors alleged that the sexual assault occurred at an apartment in the beach resort of Nyali earlier this week.
The DPP emphasized the importance of ensuring the musician remains within the court's jurisdiction and directed immigration authorities to issue an alert at border points.
While Tanzanian authorities have not commented on the situation, the case has sparked significant debate on social media, with advocates calling for support for Matonya and others stressing the need to take the allegations seriously and uphold justice.
