This archive report was first published on 30 August 2019.
On August 27, 2019, Kenya's moral policeman, Dr Ezekiel Mutua, announced the ban of public performances of 'Tetema' and 'Wamlambez', citing their explicit lyrics.
The Tanzania National Arts Council (Basata) has expressed surprise and disagreement with the decision, stating that the songs are not pornographic and have been vetted for public consumption in Tanzania.
Basata's boss, Godfrey Mngereza, emphasized that the council always reviews songs before release, and 'Tetema' has not been banned in Tanzania.
Dr Mutua, CEO of the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB), decreed that the songs can only be played in nightclubs and bars where the audience is strictly adult.
"It's embarrassing to see even national leaders singing and dancing to the obscenity in public. The lyrics are dirty and not suitable for public consumption, especially children," Dr Mutua said.
Despite the ban, the songs remain popular in Kenya and Tanzania, attracting varied reactions from the online community.
