Hilu Beatrice Cosmas (died 29 March 2021; stage-name Trisha Cee) was a South Sudanese female artist and activist who was advocating for girls' education in South Sudan and member of Anataban Campaign. She died in 2021 after a vehicle collision in Juba.

Trisha Cee
Cee in 2017
Cee in 2017
Background information
Birth nameHilu Beatrice Commas
BornJuba, South Sudan
DiedMarch 29, 2021(2021-03-29) (aged 26)
Juba, South Sudan
GenresAfro, R&B
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter and advocate
Years active2014 - 2021

Early life

edit

She was born as Hilu Beatrice Cosmas,[1] as the only child[2] to her mother Mama Jokudu Joyce.[3]

Career and activism

edit

Cee started her musical career in early 2014 and collaborated with South Sudanese artists WJ de King, Silver X, Dynamq, and Star Eagles. Her discography included the single Salai, a collaboration with Kebas and Hibu Ita, featuring One Pound.[1] She worked with manager Sabuni Pakalast.[1]

Cee was a member of the Anataban Campaign, an artist collective social justice advocacy group.[4]

Death

edit

Cee died on March 29, 2021,[2][5] after the boda boda she was travelling was run over by a water truck[6][7] at around 4pm.[3] The boda boda rider died instantly, and Cee was taken to hospital.[6] She was initially taken to Juba Teaching Hospital, before being transferred to a private health clinic.[6]

Her friends accused the hospital of failing to provide any treatment for three[4] or four hours,[2] sparking public protests about road safety and the quality of care at the teaching hospital.[7] Complaints included the lack of availability of the hospital's blood bank outside daytime hours.[4] Groups joining the protest included the Foundation for Democracy and Accountable Governance and OKAY Africa.[5]

Fourteen people were arrested near the Mobil Roundabout in Juba,[2] and the Anataban Campaign called for the release of those arrested.[4] A joint statement by the European Union, France, Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands was critical of what it called the police's “unnecessary and disproportionate” use of force.[8][9]

Cee was buried in Joppa, Juba.[3]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c SouthSudanz.com. "South Sudanses Musician Trisha Cee Dies In Juba Hospital | SouthSudanz.com". ZambianMusic.net. Retrieved 2023-02-19.
  2. ^ a b c d "Activists arrested over Trisha Cee's death protests". Radio Tamazuj. 30 March 2021. Retrieved 2023-02-19.
  3. ^ a b c "TRISHA CEE : THE VOICE OF HOPE GONE SILENT". The Insider South Sudan. 2021-04-02. Retrieved 2022-12-16.
  4. ^ a b c d Machol, Deng (2021-03-30). "South Sudan :Furor and Protests engulf Juba over Musician's death". PAN AFRICAN VISIONS. Retrieved 2023-02-19.
  5. ^ a b "Trisha Cee succumbs to injuries". Eye Radio. 2021-03-30. Retrieved 2022-12-11.
  6. ^ a b c Panchol, Ayuen (2021-03-30). "Police hold youth activists over Trisha Cee's death protests". Eye Radio. Retrieved 2023-02-19.
  7. ^ a b Peteranderl, Sonja; Hervé, Jean-Baptiste; Surprenant, Adrienne (2021-11-10). "Healing Societal Rifts: A Photographic Journey through South Sudan's Burgeoning Music Scene". Der Spiegel. Archived from the original on 2021-11-10. Retrieved 2023-02-19. Lusha Kay's T-shirt is printed with a photo of Trisha Cee, a singer who died following a motorcycle accident in March. Her friends, though, believe the hospital is to blame for her death, saying they didn't provide her with treatment. Her death led to protests against the country's abysmal healthcare system and several people were arrested.
  8. ^ Richard, Jale (2021-04-13). "EU concerned over suppression of peaceful protests in Juba". Eye Radio. Retrieved 2023-02-19.
  9. ^ EU, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Office of the Swedish Embassy in Juba (12 April 2021). "Statement on freedom of expression by the EU, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Office of the Swedish Embassy in Juba | EEAS Website". www.eeas.europa.eu. Retrieved 2023-02-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)