Chimano reveals how his mother confronted him about being a homosexual

Sauti Sol star Willis Chimano has laid bare a shocking and emotional chapter of his teenage life, revealing how his mother confronted him about his sexuality long before he was ready to face it himself.

Speaking in a recent BBC interview, the Friday Feeling hitmaker opened up about the close — almost inseparable — bond he shared with his mother while growing up, including helping her pick outfits for work. But that closeness, he revealed, eventually led to a moment that would change everything.

“She Asked Me Point-Blank”

Chimano recalled that during his late teens, his mother began noticing shifts in his behaviour. He was withdrawn, struggling internally, and acting in ways that worried his family.

One day, she asked him to join her in his bedroom. What followed was a question that left him shaken.

She asked directly whether he was attracted to men.

Panicked and terrified, Chimano said he denied it — not once, but several times. At just 17 or 18 and still living under his parents’ roof, the pressure was overwhelming. His mother, a deeply religious woman, wanted the truth from him rather than hearing rumours from outsiders.

Tears, Prayers and Pressure to “Change”

When Chimano finally admitted the truth, the room erupted with emotion. He described tears, intense prayers, scripture readings and painful questions about whether he was willing to change.

Unsure of himself and afraid of losing his family, Chimano said he agreed — not because it was true, but because he didn’t know how else to respond.

Although his parents continued to show love, the aftermath was heavy. Days later, he began receiving reading materials about conversion and testimonies of people who claimed they had “changed” their sexuality.

The Moment He Chose Himself

The experience forced Chimano into a life-altering reckoning. One Sunday afternoon, he gathered the courage to speak again.

This time, he was firm.

He told his parents he was gay — and that it was not something that could be prayed away or altered. He made it clear that understanding his life would require effort on their part, and that he would no longer deny who he was.

That moment, Chimano said, marked the true beginning of his journey toward living openly and honestly.

Love Online, Hate Offline

Following the BBC interview, fans flooded social media with praise, applauding Chimano’s courage, vulnerability and resilience. Many thanked him for telling a story that so many African families still struggle to confront.

But his public journey has come at a cost.

In 2018, a photo of Chimano with his partner leaked online, effectively outing him and making him one of the first mainstream Kenyan pop stars to be publicly identified as gay.

He later admitted he had carefully curated his image for years, fearing that being open could damage Sauti Sol’s success.

The backlash was swift and brutal — online abuse, threats, and accusations that his identity went against African culture.

Unapologetic and Unstoppable

Despite the risks, Chimano fully embraced his identity in 2021. Instead of ending his career, the move coincided with some of Sauti Sol’s biggest wins, including signing with Universal Music.

As a solo artist, resistance has continued. In 2022, police shut down his Love and Harmony festival, sparking fresh controversy.

Still, Chimano refuses to retreat.

He continues to tour internationally, release new music, and is currently working on a memoir and a solo album expected in 2026 — proof that even in the face of backlash, living your truth can be the boldest power move of all.