The Kenyan government has decided to ban a popular but rather 'obscene' song by Tanzania musicians Diamond Platinumz and Harmonize from the school environments in the country.
Kenya Film Classification Board KFCB CEO Ezekiel Mutua on Friday communicated that “Kwangwaru” song was going to great lengths in compromising the desired morals of the society.
He was particularly perplexed with the rather common situations of parents coexisting with their children in environments where the music was played in consideration that the lyrics are explicit in nature.
According to Mutua, the song, which is considered to be a major hit in the country, should not be played, sang or performed in schools in Kenya.
The KFCB boss also warned that music and performances promoting immorality or otherwise undermine Kenya’s culture, values, and laws.
Mutua stated, “Dances and discos must be regulated to ensure foreign artists do not flock to Kenya to erode our values, cultures, and tradition.”
He questioned why Kenya would be open to giving an audience to music such as that of Diamond stating, “Why do they perform music that has been banned in their countries to Kenya?”
Mutua went ahead to mention a few lines of the Kwangaru hit song before warning headteachers against having the music played to pupils in schools.
He indicated that he will take such matters head-on with the Ministry of Education.
“It will not be business as usual, foreign musicians who are coming to undermine our cultures and values, children are singing for their mothers inama inama (bend over bend over) even in schools. That song has a bad meaning, we have banned it in schools,” he declared.
The CEO was also disturbed by the behaviours of foreign artists coming into the country and causing the said damage without paying taxes to the government.
He stated, “They collaborate with clubs and pay directly to their countries of origin so they do not pay taxes. They fly here like hero’s and superstars, perform and go, and the monies wired directly to their countries of origin.”
For such, Mutua said that there will be organized raids conducted by the Kenya Revenue Authority and other relevant government agencies.
In particular, the owners of establishments and clubs that host the artists will be personally liable.
“People who invite Diamond and other people to perform here even content that has been banned in Tanzanian and any other country. Abetting the process of evading. That is corruption,” he noted.
However, the central part of his message was the need to protect minors from obscene contents of some songs.
In 2018, Tanzania banned 13 local songs on the grounds that they served to compromise the nation’s values and norms.
Watch the video of Mutua below