Jabari is a Kenyan gender non-conforming queer Black African feminist who combines art, culture, and social justice to create equanimity, a justice for queer people. Living in a homophobic society, Jabari has carved out their own space and asserted their right to exist as they are while giving others the confidence to do the same.
The first night I met Jabari, I knew they were cool. The septum piercing hanging unapologetically from both of our nostrils was our telepathic connection: we knew that we were safe around each other. Later that night I learned that we both use them/them pronouns. Jabari hadn’t planned to go out but they were persuaded. As our group of friends walked to Dagoz, a small live music venue around the corner, I told the group that I was looking for a place to stay, closer to the studio I was working in. Immediately Jabari offered to host me.
Once I moved in, me and Jabari did photoshoots, shot a short film, watched anime together, cuddled, went to Queer events around Nairobi, read each other’s books, and burnt cookies together. Coming to Nairobi, I had no idea how much I would have to hide myself to pass as not Queer, but Jabari gave me the confidence to dress the way I want to and be my full self in public spaces. They are constantly expanding social norms, fighting homophobia/transphobia and forcing Kenyan society to move forward. They are revolutionary.
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/34ab00f9-0db6-4bde-bd6f-4c509dc39b54/0/0/0/0,0,2429,3643,700,3643/0-0-0/fc8a99d8-1e7a-4dc7-8775-051be25b8227/1/1/1.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037473950~hmac=ba5c5472bf9503b93fdc4d88f986c9eeae4d755671ebb900caf8bef605748243)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/34ab00f9-0db6-4bde-bd6f-4c509dc39b54/0/0/0/0,0,2429,3643,700,3643/0-0-0/a7a2a6f8-b6e8-4f3a-9df3-09bce6e85a94/1/1/2.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037473950~hmac=ba5c5472bf9503b93fdc4d88f986c9eeae4d755671ebb900caf8bef605748243)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/34ab00f9-0db6-4bde-bd6f-4c509dc39b54/0/0/0/0,0,2510,3524,700,3524/0-0-0/7420e899-53bb-42d8-8ae5-754d160c9f94/1/1/4.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037473950~hmac=9488a8e4bace521e0cc4d5a9a677d7963147a1483aba690e31b6882cd5da1b92)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/34ab00f9-0db6-4bde-bd6f-4c509dc39b54/0/0/0/0,0,2429,3643,700,3643/0-0-0/81b3ed8e-a3a1-4df2-baf2-0d364acf5bbd/1/1/5.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037473950~hmac=ba5c5472bf9503b93fdc4d88f986c9eeae4d755671ebb900caf8bef605748243)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/34ab00f9-0db6-4bde-bd6f-4c509dc39b54/0/0/0/0,0,3668,2412,700,2412/0-0-0/b0b10702-b810-4802-a859-eaf2e0045ff6/1/1/DSC01247.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037473950~hmac=9ab3b50e0c9f298fb691a6c32dbcdb096b4b8bad119701729d4ad33675f14253)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/34ab00f9-0db6-4bde-bd6f-4c509dc39b54/0/0/0/0,0,3643,2429,700,2429/0-0-0/79ed59ec-7269-411d-bb98-05b172bb0ac2/1/1/DSC01250.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037473950~hmac=1aecadf57e74af4cc2c0bcf5a49ded4a1d44a3f5caadd762c14b0abc7f9f50a4)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/34ab00f9-0db6-4bde-bd6f-4c509dc39b54/0/0/0/0,0,3643,2429,700,2429/0-0-0/194d2698-0340-4d1e-97cd-0b1b6e7d9048/1/1/DSC01257.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037473950~hmac=1aecadf57e74af4cc2c0bcf5a49ded4a1d44a3f5caadd762c14b0abc7f9f50a4)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/34ab00f9-0db6-4bde-bd6f-4c509dc39b54/0/0/0/0,0,3643,2429,700,2429/0-0-0/c3fd6923-88ef-46f3-a472-5a63f6b9f4c0/1/1/DSC01262.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037473950~hmac=1aecadf57e74af4cc2c0bcf5a49ded4a1d44a3f5caadd762c14b0abc7f9f50a4)