President John Magufuli is ruling Tanzania with an iron fist and musicians are not spared either, they are forced to toe the line or face the music.
2020 Tanzania’s shambolic general election has seen Magufuli re-elected having garnered 12.5 million votes or 85%, while his main challenger Tundu Lissu of the Chadema party got 1.9 million votes, or 13%.
The election was marred by arrests of opposition candidates and protesters, restrictions on agents of opposition political parties to access polling stations, multiple voting, pre-ticking of ballots, and widespread blocking of social media.
International observers have stated that Tanzania’s reputation for democratic ideals is crumbling, with US embassy in Tanzania saying there had been credible allegations of significant election-related fraud and intimidation.
That all Tanzanian celebrities who contested the 2020 general election on the ruling party CCM’s ticket won is no brainer.
For instance Diamond’s manager Babu Tale ran unopposed after his rivals were disqualified by the electoral body before the election.
Tanzania election 2020: Babu Tale, Mwana FA win as Professor Jay loses MP seat
Tanzanian musicians have been forced to be Magufuli’s ass-kissers to benefit politically or just to avoid being in the government’s bad books.
Diamond Platnumz was forced to be vouch for Magufuli’s re-election after having a run-in with authorities multiple times.
The Bongo singer has built up quite a business empire – has his own record label, TV and radio station, and as such couldn’t afford to be in Magufuli’s bad books.
In April 2018, Diamond was questioned by police after posting on Instagram a video clip of himself playfully kissing and cuddling with Hamisa Mobetto.
Months later, Diamond was banned from performing in and out of Tanzania by the country’s music regulatory body BASATA after performing ‘Mwanza’ which had been banned for being impropriate.
Diamond at one point contemplated leaving Tanzania for another country after growing tired of the strict laws introduced during Magufuli’s first term in office to keep musicians in line.
The singer however backed down and decided to toe the line, he even remixed his popular song ‘Baba Lao’ to ‘Magufuli Baba Lao’ as a sign of his loyalty to the president.
Magufuli even forced Diamond to bury the hatchet with Alikiba, the two singers were part of the president’s re-election team performing for huge crowds during the campaign trail.
In July 2020, President Magufuli got two long-time rivals – Diamond Platnumz and Alikiba – to attend a rally in the capital, Dodoma, where he made the musicians end their beef. Photo credit: Bongo 5
Immediately after the electoral commission announced Magufuli’s win, Alikiba, Harmonize and other Magufuli’s ass-kissers took to social media to shower the president with praise.
“Hongera kwa ushindi wa kishindo Mheshimiwa Rais Mteule, Dr John Pombe Magufuli na Makamu wa Rais Mteule @samia_suluhu_hassan. Watanzania tumeonyesha imani kubwa nanyi kwa kuwaongezea miaka mengine 5 ya kuliongoza taifa letu, nawaombea kwa Allah awaongoze katika kila hatua ya uongozi wenu kwenye taifa hili, muongoze kwa amani, upendo na busara zaidi katika kuisogeza Tanzania katika maendeleo makubwa zaidi. Mwenyezi Aibariki Tanzania 🇹🇿, Dr John Pombe Magufuli na viongozi wote waliochaguliwa katika uchaguzi mkuu. Tudumishe Amani na Upendo,” wrote Alikiba.
“Happy birthday Mr president 🎉🎈🎆🧨 Pole Kwa Uchovu wa Kuzunguka Kila Chochoro Kuzinadi Sera Tukufu na Hatimae Tumeshinda Kwa Kishindo Hongera Sana ….!!!! DR JOHN POMBE MAGUFULI rais Wa Jamhuri Ya Muungano Wa Tanzania 🇹🇿 Kazi Ziendele…!!!!! 🏁 We made History Together 🛀🛀 Na Kesho Tutasherehekea Hapa KONDEGANG H.Q #USHAMBANIGHTPARTY 🏁🏁🏁🏁,” wrote Harmonize.
Tanzania musicians who have dared challenge’s Magufuli’s authority have paid a heavy price. Rapper Roma Mkatoliki, famed for his anti-government songs, was abducted by four armed men in April 2017, tortured and then dumped near the ocean in Dar es Salaam three days later.
In 2019, radio stations in Tanzania refused to play Roma Mkatoliki’s song criticizing the government for fear of censorship. (Several newspapers have been banned in Tanzania for being critical of the government)
Another rapper Nay wa Mitego was also arrested in 2017 over his song ‘Wapo’ which was critical of the government. The song was questioning freedom of expression in Tanzania.
