Tanzania music ban 'a futile exercise'

The banned songs include ‘Hallelujah’ and ‘Waka Waka’ by Diamond Platnumz, ‘Chura’ and ‘Nimevurugwa’ by Snura, ‘Pale Kati Patamu’ by Ney wa Mitego, ‘Hainaga Ushemeji’ by Manifongo, ‘I’m Sorry JK’ by Nikki Mbishi, ‘Tema Mate Tumchape’ by Vanessa Madee, ‘Uzuri Wako’ by Juma Jux, ‘Nampa Papa’ by Gigy Money, ‘Nampaga’ by Barnaba, 'Maku Makuz' by Emmanuel Elibariki and ‘Kibamia’ by Roma Mkatoliki.

"The said records have lyrics which violate ethics of regulations of broadcasting services (content) 2005 and they are against Tanzanian norms and values,” the TCRA said in a statement on Wednesday.

Subsequent to the statement, Deputy Minister of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports Juliana Shonza barred musician Roma Mkatoliki from performing or operating a music business in Tanzania. Shonza said Mkatoliki had ignored a directive from her ministry to change the lyrics of ‘Kibamia’.

However, Rapa Stamina, who appears on the song, denied the statement during an interview with a local TV station. He said the Ministry of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports had summoned the two artists on 22 November 2017 and given them six months to change the song’s lyrics. That period is yet to elapse.

‘Kibamia’ is one of Mkatoliki’s many compositions directed at the Tanzanian government. On 5 April last year, Mkatoliki and three of his colleagues were reportedly kidnapped from Tongwe Studios in Dar es Salaam. They were released on the shores of the Indian Ocean two days later. Mkatoliki told a local newspaper that the kidnappers had questioned and tortured the musicians before letting them free.

Mkatoliki’s abduction came 11 days after the arrest of Tanzanian rapper Nay wa Mitego for the release of ‘Wapo’, which criticised several Tanzanian leaders and celebrities.

On 12 December 2017, at the Parents' wing general assembly of the ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), President John Magufuli ordered the TCRA to take legal action against artists using nudity in their videos and to enforce laws governing media to curb moral erosion.

“The TCRA has a mandate to suspend or issue other legal actions against any media outlet found guilty of violating the regulations, yet it doesn’t take action,” Magufuli said. “I urge the relevant authorities to start taking immediate actions to curb moral erosion.”

On 19 January 2018, the National Arts Council of Tanzania (BASATA) banned several socialites and video vixens who share their semi-nude photos on social media from participating in musical activities for a period of six months.

But in what is seen as a gross double standard, the CCM drew hostile public reaction when a video emerged of a minor twerking at a CCM by-election rally in Kinondoni District on 2 February.

The Tanzania Commission for Human Rights and Good Governance investigated the matter and released an official statement on Thursday last week. It condemned the use of minors for political campaigning and quoted the Tanzanian Law of the Child Act 2009, which states that “a person shall not employ or engage a child in any activity that may be harmful to his or her health, education, mental, physical or moral development”.

Music In Africa spoke to Tanzanian artists and social commentators who shared their views about last week's ban.

“To be honest there is no freedom of speech in Tanzania," a well-known artists who did not want to be named said. "It’s known that the government is trying to oppress the media and when you go against it you are in big trouble. Roma is always against it in his songs,” he said, adding that the ban was futile because the songs would be played on platforms such as YouTube and SoundCloud, which he government could not regulate.

Cartoonist James Gayo said the banned songs had already enjoyed extensive airtime and that the directive to prohibit them had come too late.

“No one knows what prompted the banning of the songs. Regardless, we’re getting used to the issuing of such orders,” Gayo said.

Commenting on the recent imprisonment of Tanzanian rapper-turned-politician Joseph 'Sugu' Mbilinyi, Gayo said the judgement was harsh and unreasonable.

“There was no substance in the accusations,” he said. “Sugu is a rapper who became a member of Parliament. But in general, all opposition members are having it rough at the moment. He is not the first.”

Sugu was sentenced to five months in prison early last week after he was found guilty of defaming Magufuli at a public rally in December. He was accused of associating Magufuli with an alleged assassination attempt of opposition MP Tundu Lissu last year.

Another source close to the developments, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “High-profile Tanzanian artists were used by the ruling party to entertain the public during election campaigns. A couple of months later, a huge number of them were charged with drug trafficking. They were paraded in full glare of the media.

“Fans are angry because not a single celebrity has come forward to condemn the wave of killings and abductions committed by the government. The public feel that they have been let down by celebrity artists in this country.” 

But local TV and radio presenter Bernad James agrees that the government has a right to censor music in Tanzania.

“The ban was very much necessary because there are a number of issues to sing about apart from nudity and use of abusive language,” James said. “There should be a clear separation between what can be consumed by the public through media and in nightclubs. Perhaps the government can emulate how the Congo [DRC] handles such issues. In Congo, there is a censorship board that vets the lyrics and music video before release. I think that can be done in Tanzania too.”

Below is one of the banned songs: