In an interview with France’s Le Parisien newspaper, Brenda Biya whose stage name is Kingnastty shared her motivations and experiences. “There are many people in my situation, and I hope to inspire them,” she said, emphasizing the importance of visibility and representation.
Brenda’s announcement came through an Instagram post last week, where she shared an image of herself kissing Brazilian model Layyons Valença, accompanied by the caption, “I’m crazy about you & I want the world to know.” The post sparked mixed reactions in Cameroon, a country where same-sex relations are illegal and punishable by up to five years in prison.
In her interview, the 27-year-old revealed that she did not inform anyone in her family before publishing the post. “Coming out is an opportunity to send a strong message,” she stated, expressing her hope that her story would bring attention to the “unfair” anti-gay law, which existed before her father, Paul Biya, became president in 1982.
The singer, who has been in a relationship with Valença for eight months, mentioned that she had already brought her partner to Cameroon three times without disclosing their relationship to her family.
The musician, who lives abroad, acknowledged receiving both supportive and negative reactions since her revelation. Despite the backlash, she remains positive about her decision, wanting to offer hope and solidarity to others facing similar struggles. “I want to give hope and send love to those suffering because of who they are and help them feel less alone,” she said.
Her brother was the first family member to contact her after the post, expressing anger at her decision to publish it without prior notice to the family. Subsequently, her parents, President Paul Biya and First Lady Chantal Biya, also called, requesting her to delete the post. “Since then, it’s been silence,” she noted.
While reflecting on her journey, Biya shared that she had her first crush on a girl at the age of 16 but found it challenging to express her love due to the prevailing situation in Cameroon. Her public coming out has drawn no official comment from the president or the first lady. However, a government source told French broadcaster RFI that the matter pertained to the “private life of an adult residing outside the country and does not in any way concern Cameroon or the head of state.”
Rights groups have lauded Brenda’s revelation as a courageous move that highlights the ongoing struggle against discriminatory laws in Cameroon. However, it has also sparked a debate about whether coming out is a privilege that can only be enjoyed by a select few in the country.
