We listen, we faint! The tiktok challenge was now in Kenya. “Free the Nipples! Free the Nipples!” The millennials were shocked. They judged and fainted. This was a movement. It was a challenge. We wanted to walk unfiltered and unbothered. You remember “My Dress, My Choice”, it was back. Bigger and Better. Radical! Topless Women. Bras was a jail. Famous Sauti Sol music, “I wanna be free…” became the theme of the movement. In the Europe, #NotDemure outfits flooded the red carpets. “We’re in the Free the Nipple era!” a celebrity exclaimed.

No bras. I wore my crochet crop top. It wasn’t see-through, it was see-all. “I'm comfortable!” I slammed the door. It was an extreme assimilation. Clearly.

We voiced them. The sagged ones, the tiny ones and the plus-sized ones. They were the oppressed, suppressed, and depressed. Live we were, on TV stations, the media and radio broadcasts. It was never a global crisis, but a global movement. I wanted to show off the stretch marks on my butt and on my boobs too. ‘Alusa Why Are You Topless’ was an album that talked about Freedom. Maybe Bien’s freedom was so different from mine. Mine was loud freedom. Stern. It wasn’t morally constrained. But what is a society without morals?

This was a new generation. We were judged harshly. We wanted a change around modesty. We wanted a loud expression. Not being judged harshly with the norms. We wanted to be loud on our art. Creative as it is. Not being told to use euphemism to tone it down. What is art without expression? You have to be different. Stand out!

The streets were flooded. Creativity was the theme. It was colourful. Nostalgic. Grandiose. Youths my age never Disappoint. Except for time. It felt like Halloween in Africa. Our parents' voices had been toned down for so long. We were here to break generational curses. Knowing that power follows the blame finger, We were ready to be headlines in magazines. Such a colourful moment it was, Not until the police officers thought we were goons. They always found a way to twist it. Immorality was the word. ‘Unlawful act’ according to that section that talks about dress code. I wasn’t aware that dress code was also a section on the Constitution. LMAO.

Being at the forefront. Activist Jusii, addressed the police officers. We want to express our art. This is a celebratory movement. We will not suppress our art. We will not be constrained. Unfortunately, a stone was thrown from the crowd. This was an indication that ‘war’ was here already. Knowing very well that police officers were well equipped. Hell broke loose.

They felt it was uncultured to walk naked in the streets. They thought art was just another protest against the government. Another devil to chase away from the streets using their reddish-orange tear gas and itchy water. This was the feeling. The feeling of being chased from the streets of your own country. For standing up for what you believed in. Was this the expression that a section on the constitution stood for. Freedom of Expression being toned down.

This became a battlefield. It was either we die in submission or die fighting. But if we die on the battlefield, tell mama we did our best. But how will the best be measured, if we die? The truth is that we will be forgotten. Fighting for art was termed stupid. But expression mattered to us. To this generation. To Gen Zs.

“Art is chaos taking shape.”

#Share the Art you fear to Display, cause Art is Expression!

“Street becomes a Canvas of Rebellion”

Comments (5)

• Dan✌️✌️

  August 6, 2025

  Mehn u can't separate the art from the artist,,,big up Celli,,,this was the one I waited for,,just remembering the beginning of it😅😁🥹✌️

• Dennis Ngigi

  August 2, 2025

  Freedom freedom to all

• Brian Robin

  August 1, 2025

  It is just amaizing

• tom wambua

  August 1, 2025

  Yes!! Free the nipples!!! 😂😂😂

• Secret admirer😊

  August 1, 2025

  Free the titties is golden 😂really creative it does it all😂