Sauti Sol singer Bien Aime Barasa has denied allegations that he owes Ksh5 million to Morrison Litiema, who claims the musician unlawfully used a photo of him as a meme. Litiema alleges the image, taken during his financial struggles, was shared without consent, prompting a lawsuit for emotional distress in 2022.
Barasa told Mungai Eve he would not pay compensation, stating the photo was used as a meme rather than by his creation. 'I didn’t make the meme. I’m running big businesses in the city,' he said. 'Litiema, I’m also his fan. Let’s prepare chicken, ugali, and traditional vegetables to resolve this.'
The musician further accused Litiema of seeking attention, asserting the man in the photo is not him. 'I’ve studied that guy closely. It’s not him. He should stop chasing clout and work like the rest of us,' Barasa claimed. 'I won’t compensate him because it’s a meme.'
A 2020 screenshot of the original photo circulated online, showing its early viral spread. Barasa’s response highlights ongoing debates about intellectual property rights in digital culture, particularly when personal moments are repurposed without consent.
