Grammo Suspect – Rainbow Ambassador Kenya

Grammo Suspect, the stage name of Grace Munene, is a rapper, poet, and activist originally from Kenya and currently based in Canada. Her work lies at the intersection of art and activism, with a trajectory defined by her commitment to human rights, social justice, and LGBTQI+ visibility.

I haven’t been able to develop my music career in Kenya because most producers won’t work with a lesbian… The government doesn’t want anyone recording anything related to LGBT issues.

Since her early days in Nairobi’s music scene, Grammo Suspect has used hip hop and spoken word as tools for protest and social transformation. In a deeply conservative environment, her visibility as a lesbian woman and artist brought her not only recognition but also persecution. Her music, filled with messages of empowerment and resistance, has enabled her to connect with marginalised communities both within and beyond the African continent.

Embrace Diversity

Her album Embrace Diversity (2020) cemented her voice as a leading figure in Afro-queer rap, with tracks such as Our Love is Valid and My Identity, where she powerfully asserts the right to be and love without fear. Grammo is also the founder of Rainbow Talent Kenya, a platform that supports young queer artists from East Africa.

After being forced into exile for security reasons, she has continued her career abroad, taking part in international programmes such as Artists at Risk, which hosted her in residencies in Helsinki and Barcelona. She is currently living in Canada, where she continues to create, collaborate, and act as a global ambassador for diversity, equality, and dignity.

Her work transcends the musical sphere: it is a constant declaration of pride, an invitation to empathetic listening, and a testimony of resistance that resonates across stages, festivals, art centres, and communities committed to change.

Audio produced by Ildefons Alonso Valls
Video produced by Sergi Faustino
Dance by Sergi Faustino

Video recorded during the artistic residency the artist completed at Konvent.

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