This archive report was first published on 12 January 2020.
January 12, 2020, marked a day of intense debate in Tanzania after Gardner G Habash, the father of 25-year-old Bongo Flava musician Malkia Karen, made a shocking revelation in an interview with vlogger Zamarind Mkitema.
According to Habash, his daughter should find a man with great financial power or one who is much older than her, as her male age-mates cannot afford to take care of her.
Speaking alongside his daughter, Habash stressed that Malkia's male peers lack the financial means to provide for her, stating, 'Mtu mwenye umri kama wa Karen labda miaka miwili, mitatu, minne aliyempita mbele ana nini? Yeye mwenyewe anatafuta maisha halafu unapewa mzigo kama huu au uweza?' (A man of Karen's age, maybe two, three, four years older, what does he have? He himself is looking for a life, and then you're given this burden or responsibility?')
As a father, Habash has been bankrolling his daughter's music career, which debuted in March 2018, and has since seen her drop over four singles.
However, his latest comments have been interpreted by some as a ploy to draw attention and make his daughter popular.
Lady Jaydee, Malkia's mother, filed for divorce in 2014, and Malkia was from Habash's previous relationship.
