Technology workers in Kenya held a vigil for Ladi Anzaki Olubunmi, a Nigerian TikTok moderator whose death remains mysterious after two years without travel home. Colleagues voiced concerns about her working conditions, revealing issues faced by many content moderators in the region, including lack of support and unfair practices. Her family struggles with the financial burden of funeral costs as they consider seeking assistance from her church.
In a poignant display of solidarity, technology workers in Nairobi, Kenya, gathered to honor their late colleague, Ladi Anzaki Olubunmi, a Nigerian content moderator for TikTok. Olubunmi’s body was discovered three days posthumously in her residence, amidst unclear circumstances after she had not been able to return to Nigeria for two years.
The exact cause of her death remains undetermined; however, colleagues revealed that Olubunmi had expressed feelings of exhaustion and a strong desire to return home. Despite inquiries from The Associated Press, Teleperformance Kenya did not provide comments but reportedly refuted claims of Olubunmi being denied leave, calling them “baseless and untrue.”
Past reports from content moderators employed by subcontracted firms in Kenya cite a multitude of issues, including inadequate pay, a lack of mental health support, demanding working hours, and instances of intimidation. In addition to Olubunmi’s situation, over 100 former Facebook content moderators have filed lawsuits against the company for similar grievances surrounding working conditions and employment termination practices involving its subcontractor, Samasource.
During the vigil, several content moderators articulated that inadequate working conditions could have played a role in Olubunmi’s untimely death. Kauna Malgwi, a close friend, highlighted that there are over 100 Nigerian workers under Teleperformance without work permits for the past two years, which has hindered their ability to return home despite having annual travel benefits.
Following the discovery of her body, Olubunmi’s family was notified the next day. They received an email from Teleperformance informing her brother of her passing and providing contacts for local investigative authorities regarding autopsy and burial arrangements. Due to financial constraints, the family may seek assistance from her church in Nairobi for funeral expenses rather than arranging for her body to be sent home.
The tragic death of Ladi Anzaki Olubunmi serves as a stark reminder of the challenging realities faced by content moderators in Kenya, highlighting issues of employment conditions and workers’ rights within the technology sector. Vigil participants collectively mourned their colleague while raising awareness of the systemic challenges that contributed to such tragedies. The call for improved working conditions echoes the experiences of many others in similar positions, emphasizing the urgent need for reform.
Original Source: www.ksat.com
