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, Kenya's Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has said in a statement posted on X. According to the DPP, the court granted him bail - set at 500,000 Kenyan shillings ($3,900, £2,900) - and ordered him to surrender his Tanzanian passport. The award-winning artist is beloved for his 'bongo flava' hits, a genre originating from Tanzania that blends Swahili lyrics with urban beats influenced by traditional Eastern African music. Matonya rose to prominence about 15 years ago and still performs across East Africa with popular songs like Vaileti, Anita, and Taxi Bubu. During the court hearing, prosecutors detailed that the alleged assault occurred at an apartment in Nyali beach resort. The DPP expressed anxiety over ensuring the musician remains in jurisdiction during the case and instructed immigration authorities to watch border points. Authorities in Tanzania have remained silent on the matter, which has ignited discussions on social media and within the Tanzanian music community—some advocating for Matonya's support, while others emphasize the importance of justice for victims in such serious allegations.