Tanzanian successful rapper, Mwana FA real name Hamis Mwinjuma is following fellow rapper, Professor Jay and he’s currently vying to be a member of parliament in the upcoming general election.
Mwana FA who is a millionaire is currently vying for Muheza Constituency through the ruling party, CCM(Chama Cha Mapinduzi).
Mwana FA has already been given the official certificate to vie for the parliamentary seat of Muheza constituency.
The celebrated rapper was welcomed by a crowd who were rallying behind and who are in support for his election come election day slotted later on Wednesday, 28 October.
Back in 2016, Ambwene Yessaya(AY) and Hamisi Mwinjuma(Mwana FA) won a precedent case against mobile phone company MIC Tanzania (Tigo) for unauthorized use of their music as caller tunes that saw them win Tsh2.18 billion(KShs. 100,000,000) in special damages in a landmark ruling.
The artistes claim that Tigo sold, without permission in the form of caller tunes, content that belonged to them without any agreement between the two parties.
Tanzanian rapper Mwana FA tests positive for Corovavirus, COVID-19
The two songs at the center of the controversy are ‘Dakika Moja’ and ‘Usije Mjini’, which were both collaborations by AY and Mwana FA.
This ruling made the two artistes successful musicians both in music and in business.
“This is a key moment in copyright in Tanzania. This is something that has been happening for quite a long time now mainly because of lack of knowledge and maybe because of the costs associated with such cases,” Mwana FA said after the ruling in their favor, adding, “Nobody is supposed to use your work without your permission or agreement and if at all he has benefited then he is supposed to share with you according to the price tag you have set for your work.”
Scar believes Kenyan hip hop is better than Tanzanian hip hop
Across the East African region, there have been musicians who have switched careers from being artistes to politicians.
Among them is Charles Njagua Kanyi alias Jaguar in Kenya who is the current member of parliament for Starehe constituency, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu alias Bobi Wine in Uganda who is the member of parliament representing Kyadondo East constituency in Wakiso District, in Uganda’s Central Region, and Joseph Haule, popularly known by his stage name Professor Jay, is a Tanzanian politician, rapper, songwriter and member of the Tanzanian parliament for Mikumi constituency.
Side Note
The Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM; translates to ‘Party of the Revolution’) is the dominant ruling party in Tanzania and the second longest-ruling party in Africa, only after National Party of South Africa.
