Funeral ceremony for Tiktok content host in Kenya after death in unclear circumstances

Nairobi, Kenya (AP) – The funeral was held on Thursday for a Kenya-based Nigerian content host who died last month in a unclear situation.

Ladi Anzaki Olubunmi found the decomposed remains in her apartment in the outskirts of Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, three days after she failed to show up at work.

Among the mourners was her brother, who went to Nairobi to attend an emotional ceremony. He was overcome by grief when his friends and colleagues praised Olubunmi’s “selflessness”.

Olubunmi, 43, was hired as a Tiktok content host by Teleperformance, a global outsourcing company, and he complained about fatigue before her death, and the reason has not been disclosed.

She has lived in Kenya since 2022 and she has managed to go home only once despite having annual ticket recoups in her employment contract.

Colleagues said she was “desperate to go home” but was denied leave. Kenya Teleport Sex said in a statement in March that she did not refuse to leave and go home. In the tribute, a company spokesperson described Olubunmi as “a selfless, compassionate and deeply caring person.”

Content moderators of past work at subcontracting companies in Kenya have described working conditions in the past, which they said include below average wages, lack of mental health support, prolonged working hours and intimidation.

More than 100 former Facebook content hosts have sued social media companies for what they say is poor salary, working conditions and unfair employment termination.

Olubunmi’s colleague Tauheed Tayo Yakubu described her as the champion of better working conditions and detailed how her Nigerian colleagues in November 2023 strike in Nigerian colleagues who demanded a valid work permit.

“She asked every Nigerian to leave work immediately and we all marched,” he said.