Baraza la Sanaa la Taifa (BASATA) – Tanzania’s music regulatory has come to the defense of Rayvanny and Diamond Platnumz after Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) CEO Ezekiel Mutua banned the musicians’ song ‘Tetema’.
The moral cop banned ‘Tetema’ and ‘Walambez’ claiming that they are pure pornography. Mutua directed that the two songs can only be played in nightclubs and bars where the audience is strictly adult.
BASATA Secretary General Godfrey Mngereza has come out to clarify that ‘Tetema’ is not ‘pornographic’ like Ezekiel Mutua claimed. Mr Mngereza explained that the Tanzania’s music regulatory body always evaluates musicians’ songs to ascertain if it holds the threshold for public consumption, before the songs are released.
“Wimbo huo ni mzuri kwani hauna tatizo lolote na kawaida yetu huwa tunakagua nyimbo zote na kama wimbo ukionekana una matatizo huwa wanachukua hatua ikiwemo kuufungia. Tumekuwa tukifuatilia nyimbo za wasanii wa hapa nchini na kuwaita wanapokosea. Tunatoa onyo na hata kufungia nyimbo zao, lakini huu (TETEMA) hauna shida ndio maana nasema sijui wametumia vigezo gani kuuzuia usichezwe mchana,” said Godfrey Mngereza.
BASATA has in the past banned Rayvanny and Diamond’s other song ‘Mwanza’ on the grounds that the song didn’t adhere to accepted moral standards in Tanzania.
The Tanzania’s music regulatory body lifted the ban on ‘Mwanza’ directing that the song should only be played in nightclubs and bars where the audience is strictly adult.
Despite lifting up the ban on performance, Rayvanny and Diamond’s ‘Mwanza’ still remains banned from radio and TV airplay in Tanzania.
