The entertainment, arts and culture fraternity is mourning the sudden passing of one of their own. Grand Master Masese who was known for strumming the Obokano – an 8 string lyre – died on Madaraka Day.
One of his last posts detailed how he had lunch at a posh venue in Westlands “with great friends”.
Hours later he updated his Facebook saying, “At Huduma Hospital, I developed terrible pains, I have just finished.”
That was the last anyone heard from him. He died shortly after.
News of his death has sent shock waves across the music industry. Many tributes have been pouring in about his life and time. One particular tribute brought tears to many people’s eyes.
Njihia wa Mwakodi paid tribute in a long post saying, “Life is transient. It is just yesterday that I was having banter with my comrade G-Master Masese and today he is no more.”
Mwakodi went ahead to Since the first time we met at the induction to Fahamu Pan African Fellowship Program over 10 years ago we formed a deep friendship and worked together in many projects aimed at promoting human dignity. Armed with an Abokano, his has been building civic consciousness consistently through music and poetry.
From the Watuha village village in Murang’a holding workshops with Wamumbi Orphan Care kids, imbaseni in Tanzania teaching youths English and music to visiting the Goree Island in Senegal while covering the World Social Forum we have transversed the villages and the continent with a message of hope and Pan Africanism.
A brilliant and humble young man who had a big vision for his community and the continent. Unafraid to speak his mind. Easy to relate and a cheerful soul.
Words cannot describe this defender of human rights enough. His consistency was admirable. Staying true to the cause. Rest in Uhuru Masese.”

Author and creative Kingwa Kimenchu penned a moving tribute too.
It read: “Unexpected death (which the majority of deaths are) leaves me disoriented and lost for words. But today i want to honor recently departed G-Master Masese as a comrade and soul brother. We met way back in the early formation of Kwani Trust.
Kwani? was very much a family, it allowed all who came within it to bond beyond the superficial layers of tribe, gender, race, class or social standing. It gave dignity to all who sheltered under its wings.
It was so full of love that you couldn’t walk through its doors with nonsense, its frequency melted all your nonsense away. It allowed you to be light, baggage-free, and be in what those in the spiritual community call ‘The Present Moment’. Kwani? was sacred.
As kids in our late teens and early twenties, a lot of us found a place we could call home within it. A place where we would be loved for our strangenesses, soothed from our hurts, celebrated for our deviancies, embraced in our allness. Poignantly, not just loved by others, loved by ourselves. It allowed us to love ourselves (this is no small thing).
It is this spirit, ethos and way of being that comes to mind when I think of Masese. He was a beautiful, funny, warm-hearted, gentle, sparkly child. And now he has joined the ancestors to fertilize the realm once more.
Thank you for your contributions to the country, to the creative space, and to the world at large. Thank you for your kindness, love and contributions to the silliness at An Underwear Free Africa.
We will deeply miss you ❤”
May he rest in peace. Our sincere condolences to