Bongo star Rajab Abdul Kahali aka Harmonize is having a brush with Tanzanian drug enforcement authorities after the release of his controversial weed song.
Tanzania’s Drug Control and Enforcement Authority (DCEA) on Wednesday, December 7, 2022, issued a warning to Harmonize over his song ‘Weed Language’.
DCEA Chief Commissioner Gerald Kusaya warned that strict measures will be taken against musicians who compose songs promoting the use of drugs.
“Kuna wasanii wanahamasisha matumizi ya dawa za kulevya ikiwemo bangi. Kama kuna wasaniii wanaodhani badala ya kutunga nyimbo za kuhamasisha jamii, wanatunga za kuhamasisha matumizi ya dawa za kulevya, sheria yetu inasema hao tutawachukulia hatua.
(There are artistes who encourage the use of drugs, including cannabis. If there are artistes who think that instead of composing songs to encourage the community, they compose to encourage the use of drugs, our law says that we will take action against them),” Kusaya told reporters.
The warning seems to have caused panic in Harmonize same Wednesday evening apologized publicly through a written statement.
The talented singer, through his Konde Music Worldwide label, emphasized that his song ‘Weed Language’ was meant to expand and promote Tanzanian music worldwide but it was interpreted incorrectly.
“Kutokana na kadhia iliyosababishwa na maudhui ya wimbo huo tunaomba radhi na tunaahidi kuuondoa wimbo huo kwenye mitandaoyote ya kijamii. Pia tunaahidi kuboresha nyimbo zetu ili ziendane na utamaduni wetu pamoja na miongozo ya mamlaka ya serikali.
“Due to the issue caused by the content of the song we apologize and promise to remove the song from all social networks. We also promise to improve our songs to be in line with our culture as well as the guidelines of the government authorities,” a statement from the management of Konde Music Worldwide reads in part.
Harmonize has featured Jamaican Dancehall star Konshens in the new controversial song ‘Weed Language’ which praised marijuana use.
The song premiered on December 1 2022 on YouTube just after Harmonize warned he was about to release a weed song.
