The mother of Tanzanian Bongo Flava star Sefu Shabani Ramadhan, popularly known as Matonya, has made an emotional public appeal for help following her son’s incarceration in Mombasa over an alleged rape case.
Speaking during a phone interview on a Tanzanian radio show, the visibly distressed mother urged the public to come to her son’s aid.
“Matonya ni mwanangu kabisa, na hilo jambo lililotokea kwa mwanangu ni serious. Ndiyo maana naomba usaidizi, naomba msaidie mwanangu,” she said.
Her plea has since sparked intense debate online, with netizens across social media platforms weighing in on the matter.
One user, @harmokingztv, questioned the singer’s financial standing, writing: “Kwaiyo kwa ukubwa wa Matonya hana milioni kumi?”
Another, @deniswaltel, added: “Watanzania hawana tabu kumsaidia mtu, tatizo ni kosa alilolifanya ndiyo gumu. Unawezaje kula mzigo usilipe?”
According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the court heard that the alleged offence occurred on April 7, 2026, at an apartment in Nyali Sub-County, Mombasa County.
The prosecution told the court that the accused is alleged to have unlawfully committed the act against an adult woman.
Principal Prosecution Counsel Keya Ombele urged the court to impose stringent bond terms of Sh500,000, arguing that the accused is a foreign national with no fixed residence in Kenya, raising concerns over the possibility of flight.
Matonya, 43, rose to prominence in the mid-2000s and became a household name across East Africa following the release of his hit single *Vailet* in 2006.
The Anita hitmaker, originally from Tanzania’s Tanga region, is the second-born in a family of four. He later moved to Dar es Salaam to pursue music, initially performing with a group known as Diborn Circle before launching a solo career.
In 2003, he released his debut album Uaminifu, which cemented his place as one of Bongo Flava’s notable voices.
The case continues to draw attention both in Kenya and Tanzania as legal proceedings unfold.