Kili Paul, a prominent Tanzanian content creator who is known for lip-syncing to popular Indian songs and breaking the internet with his videos, was attacked with a knife and beaten with sticks by unknown individuals. On his Instagram Stories, the internet sensation was seen lying on a bed with a stretcher, a bandage on his thumb, and injuries to his legs. He’d scribbled beneath the video, “People want to bring me down, but God is always faithful to lift me up. Please remember me in your prayers.”
“I was attacked by 5 people in the movement of defending myself my right-hand toe was injured by a knife and I got 5 stitches and I was beaten by sticks and clubs but thank god I defend myself after beating two people they run away but I was already injured pray for me,” he wrote in another Instagram Story about the incident.
Paul and his sister Neema have a cult following among Indian internet users, with over 3 million Instagram followers. He rose to stardom after his sister Neena Paul’s lip-sync video to the tune “Raatan Lambiyan” went viral on social media last year.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave Kili Paul and his sister Neema Paul a shout-out on the monthly radio show Mann Ki Baat in February. PM Modi praised the sibling combination, thanking them for paying “tribute to Lata didi and singing our national anthem,” among other things. “I’m extremely delighted about this and thank you Sir @narendramodi,” Kili Paul tweeted in response to the news. “Waking up to such wonderful news has motivated me a million times.”
In Tanzania, he was also honored by the Indian High Commission.
