George Barasa Biography
George Barasa stands as a beacon of hope and courage in the world of human rights. Born in 1990 in Kenya, he has built a life dedicated to fighting for the rights of LGBTQ+ people and those living with HIV. His story mixes music, art, and activism in a way that touches hearts and sparks change. From his early days in a strict religious home to his current role as a voice for the marginalized in Canada, George shows what it means to live true to oneself despite great odds.
This biography looks at key parts of George’s life. It covers his childhood, schooling, work in music and advocacy, honors he has earned, and his private world. Readers will learn how one person’s bravery can challenge deep seated biases. George’s path highlights the struggles faced by queer Africans, but it also celebrates small wins and ongoing fights for equality. As of 2025, his influence grows through online shares and talks that reach young people everywhere.
George’s work matters because it bridges faith and identity. Raised in a Christian family, he uses gospel tunes to speak about love and acceptance. His public sharing of being gay and HIV positive in 2011 broke silence in Kenya, where such topics often lead to harm. Today, at age 35, he studies human rights in Toronto and keeps pushing for better laws back home. This article uses simple words to make his journey easy to follow. It draws from trusted sources like interviews and news reports to stay true to facts.
Through George’s eyes, we see the cost of speaking out. He lost family support and faced threats, yet he turned pain into purpose. His music video “Same Love (Remix)” in 2015 stirred debate across Africa. It showed queer lives in a positive light, even as it got banned in Kenya. Stories like his remind us that change comes from those who refuse to hide. As we explore his life, think about how one voice can echo far. George’s biography is not just history. It is a call to stand with the unseen.
George Barasa Early Life
George Barasa entered the world on October 28, 1990, in Nairobi, Kenya’s busy capital. He grew up in a modest home shaped by strong Christian values. His family attended church often, where hymns filled the air and taught lessons of faith and community. These early years built a love for music in George, but they also planted seeds of inner conflict. In a society that prized traditional roles, hints of his true self felt like secrets too heavy to share.
Life took George to Bungoma County for much of his childhood. This rural area in western Kenya offered green fields and close knit villages, but it held firm views on gender and family. Raised by parents who stressed Bible teachings, George learned to sing in church choirs. Songs about grace and redemption became his comfort. Yet, as a young boy, he noticed feelings that did not match what others expected. Simple games with friends turned into quiet questions about who he was.
Family life centered on daily routines and prayer. George’s home echoed with stories from the Gospel, guiding meals and bedtime talks. His parents worked hard to provide basics, teaching him the value of effort. Siblings shared chores, creating bonds that later faced tests. In Bungoma, school started early, with lessons under thatched roofs. George excelled in arts and music classes, where he could express ideas freely. Teachers praised his voice, seeing talent that reached beyond the classroom.
By his teens, George returned to Nairobi. The city’s fast pace brought new sights, like street performers and markets alive with sound. Here, he explored his interests more. Church youth groups offered a stage for singing, but whispers of prejudice lingered. Kenya’s culture, rooted in colonial laws from 1897, viewed same sex attraction as wrong. This backdrop made George’s inner world feel isolated. He kept journals of thoughts, turning emotions into poems set to melody.
These years shaped George’s resilience. Simple acts, like helping neighbors or leading choir practice, built confidence. But subtle rejections, such as odd looks from peers, taught caution. As 2011 neared, at age 20, life shifted. A local paper’s story exposed his private life, leading to family strain. Before that storm, early life held innocent joys: family picnics by Lake Victoria, Christmas carols, and dreams of a stage. These roots grounded George, fueling his later drive to blend faith with advocacy.
George Barasa Education
George Barasa’s schooling mixed promise with interruption, much like his path to self discovery. He began in local primary schools in Bungoma, where basic reading and math filled days. Teachers noted his quick mind and creative spark. By secondary level in Nairobi, George aimed for teaching as a career. He trained as an educator, completing core courses with focus on child development.
At 19, in 2011, a major setback hit. After a newspaper outing, family support vanished. George had to leave school mid way. This halt came during key studies, forcing him to seek work for survival. The loss stung, as education had been his bridge to stability. Yet, he did not quit learning. Self taught through books and online resources, George deepened knowledge on rights and health.
Later, he returned to formal study. George earned a certificate in special educational needs. This program taught ways to support students with unique challenges, aligning with his empathy for the overlooked. Classes covered inclusive teaching and emotional care, skills he later used in activism. Though details of the college stay private, it marked a comeback. By then, George balanced odd jobs with night classes, showing grit.
In Canada, education bloomed anew. Arriving as a refugee in 2017, he enrolled at York University in Toronto. As of 2025, he pursues an undergraduate degree in Human Rights and Equity. Courses explore global justice, migration, and identity politics. Professors praise his insights from lived experience. Group projects let George share Kenyan stories, enriching class talks.
Education for George means more than degrees. It is a tool for empowerment. He reads widely on queer history and HIV science, applying lessons to his work. Workshops with groups like Amnesty International added practical skills in advocacy. These steps built a strong base, turning personal trials into expert views.
Challenges dotted his learning road. Funding gaps in Kenya meant part time work. In exile, language shifts and culture shock tested focus. But support from mentors kept him going. Today, at 35, George nears graduation, planning further studies in law or policy.
George Barasa Career
George Barasa’s work spans music, art, and rights defense, each thread weaving his passions. It started small in Kenya’s vibrant scenes, growing into global reach. As a gospel singer, he found early footing. Church performances honed his voice, blending soulful tunes with messages of hope. By his 20s, George performed at local events, earning fans for heartfelt lyrics.
Activism entered in 2011, post outing. George joined Kuchu Times as Kenya reporter. This role let him cover stories of queer lives, from arrests to daily wins. He wrote on stigma and laws, giving voice to the hidden. His pieces reached Uganda and beyond, building networks. George co founded a queer friendly church in Nairobi, a safe spot for faith and identity to meet. Services mixed prayer with open talks, drawing dozens weekly.
Music became his bold tool. In 2015, as Joji Baro, he formed Art Attack with rapper Noti Flow. Their “Same Love (Remix)” video featured African queer faces, calling for acceptance. Released February 15, it drew praise abroad but a ban at home. Kenya’s film board labeled it “obscene,” halting airplay. Still, views topped thousands online, sparking chats on rights.
Art followed suit. George’s paintings capture HIV journeys and queer joy, shown in Nairobi galleries. Pieces use bright colors to counter dark stereotypes, sold to fund causes. He blends gospel roots with modern beats, creating tracks like personal anthems. One early song, from 2013, shared his HIV story, easing shame for listeners.
Threats rose by 2017. George fled to South Africa, seeking asylum. There, he interned at the Centre for Human Rights, learning policy work. As social media lead for AMSHeR, he boosted African men’s health campaigns. But safety issues persisted, leading to Canada in late 2017.
In Toronto, career shifted to refugee aid. George partners with groups like Rainbow Refugee, helping LGBTQ+ newcomers settle. He speaks at universities on intersectional rights, linking race, queerness, and migration. Music continues via online releases, with gospel queer fusions gaining streams. As of 2025, he mentors youth through virtual sessions, sharing coping tips.
George Barasa Achievements and Awards
George Barasa’s honors reflect his impact on rights and culture. Each one marks steps in a tough climb. In 2013, he graced The Wire magazine’s cover for the July August issue. This feature spotlighted his early work with Out in Kenya, reaching international readers.
By 2016, Amnesty International chose him for a photo exhibit. Titled “Love Is Not a Crime: Our Fight in Africa,” it ran in Bilbao, Spain. Photographer Peter Muller’s shots captured George’s resolve, touring Europe to raise funds. That year, he earned a nod for the David Kato Vision and Visibility Kaleidoscope Award. As nominee and finalist, George honored Uganda’s slain activist, tying his fight to broader African legacies.
The 2023 POZ TO Award stands tall. Presented January 2023 in Toronto, it celebrated his HIV and LGBTQ+ work. The event drew health leaders, with George speaking on stigma busting through art. This nod from Canada’s Poz TO site affirmed his role as a bridge builder.
Media spots add shine. Attitude magazine profiled him April 5, 2017, sharing outing survival tales. ITV covered his exile in May 2019, linking to Kenya’s law rulings. POZ featured him January 19, 2018, on art as therapy.
No new awards surfaced in 2024 or 2025 searches, but George’s steady output counts as achievement. Mentorship reaches hundreds yearly, per his York University talks.
Listed achievements:
- The Wire magazine cover, July August 2013.
- Amnesty International photo exhibit, 2016.
- David Kato Award finalist, 2016.
- POZ TO Award recipient, January 2023.
- Features in Attitude (2017), ITV (2019), and POZ (2018).
These nods validate George’s path. They show quiet persistence yields loud change.
George Barasa Personal Life
George Barasa keeps much of his private world close, focusing public eyes on causes. Born into a faith filled Kenyan family, early bonds shaped him. Parents and siblings offered love tied to church ways. The 2011 outing strained ties; family asked him to leave home after 20 years there. Reconciliation efforts came slow, with some mending by 2020s through letters and calls.
Today, chosen family fills gaps. Friends from activism circles act as kin, sharing holidays and support. George values these ties, built on shared struggles. Romance stays low key; he speaks little of partners, prioritizing privacy amid public glare.
Health weaves through his days. HIV positive since before 2011, George manages with meds and care. He shares tips openly, like routine checks, to help others. Mental wellness draws from therapy in Canada, coping with exile’s loneliness.
Life in Toronto suits him. Since 2017, the city’s diverse vibe aids settling. Walks in High Park clear his mind, while markets recall Nairobi flavors. Homesickness hits during Kenyan news, but video chats ease it. Faith remains core; he attends inclusive churches, quoting John 15:1 8 on his Facebook.
Personal contrasts pre and post outing, in a list:
- Family support: Strong and guiding before 2011; tested but rebuilding after.
- Daily routine: Church centered in youth; balanced with studies and advocacy now.
- Emotional ties: Close sibling bonds early; expanded to global networks today.
- Health focus: Private management pre outing; public education role post.
George’s private side grounds his public fire. It shows a man who loves deeply, prays often, and heals steadily.
Conclusion
George Barasa’s biography traces a road from hidden doubts to open triumph. From Nairobi roots to Canadian classrooms, he turns hardship into hope. His music, art, and words lift queer voices, especially in Africa. At 35 in 2025, George keeps creating, studying, and speaking. His life urges us to embrace all, fight bias, and seek justice. Follow his journey on Facebook at officialjojibaro for fresh insights. Stories like his light the way forward.
FAQs
Who is George Barasa?
George Barasa is a Kenyan Canadian activist, musician, and artist born in 1990. He fights for LGBTQ+ rights and HIV awareness through songs and talks.
Why did George Barasa leave Kenya?
He fled in 2017 due to threats after his 2011 outing as gay and HIV positive. Kenya’s laws and community backlash made staying unsafe.
What is George Barasa known for in music?
He is known for gospel tracks and the 2015 “Same Love (Remix)” video, which promoted queer acceptance despite a ban in Kenya.
Where does George Barasa live now?
He lives in Toronto, Canada, since 2017, studying at York University.
What awards has George Barasa won?
Key ones include the 2023 POZ TO Award and 2016 David Kato finalist spot.
What challenges did George Barasa face after coming out?
He lost family support, quit school, and faced violence threats, leading to exile.