Tanzania’s creative sector stands at a crossroads. While the country boasts a vibrant music scene and a new generation of outspoken artists, the National Arts Council (BASATA) and other state authorities have intensified their grip on what can be said, sung, or shown. Over the past two years, a series of high-profile censorship cases have exposed the depth of official intolerance for dissent, with musicians, gospel singers, and even visual artists facing bans, fines, prosecution, and intimidation. Critics argue that this environment is stifling creativity, fuelling self-censorship, and threatening the very soul of Tanzanian art.

The Legal Machinery of Suppression
BASATA, established under the National Arts Council Act of 1984, is the primary regulatory body overseeing artistic works in Tanzania. It wields the power to approve, ban, or fine any artistic content it deems contrary to “national morals,” “cultural values,” or “public order.” These broad, subjective terms enable authorities to target works critical of the government or those that challenge the status quo2.

The council’s reach extends beyond traditional music and performance to include social media posts, visual art, and even public statements. The 2018 guidelines and subsequent 2023 updates doubled down on BASATA’s authority, introducing new fees, administrative hurdles, and an “ethics manual” that artists must follow1.

Legal recourse is theoretically available, but few artists challenge BASATA’s decisions in court, deterred by the costs, risks, and a general sense that the system is stacked against them2.

Who’s Being Targeted?

Nay Wa Mitego: Rap as Resistance
Nay Wa Mitego, one of Tanzania’s most prominent and outspoken rappers, has become a symbol of the struggle for creative freedom. His 2024 song “Nitasema” (“I Will Speak”) directly criticized government corruption and broken promises. BASATA responded by bringing four charges against him, accusing him of provoking dissent and disrespecting the country’s leadership1.

While some Tanzanians felt Nay Wa Mitego “went too far,” many others saw the prosecution as a clear sign of shrinking space for free expression. The artist’s case has drawn international attention, with media outlets and fellow musicians like Afande Sele denouncing BASATA’s actions as an attempt to silence activism and dissent1. Nay Wa Mitego’s previous songs, including “Amkeni” and “Pale Kati Patamu,” have also been banned, and he has faced repeated threats of arrest and legal action6 4. Despite this, he continues to enjoy strong support from fans, who have rallied around him in both virtual and financial solidarity1.

Roma Mkatoliki: The Price of Critique
Roma Mkatoliki, another leading voice in Tanzanian hip-hop, has faced bans and performance restrictions for songs like “Kibamia,” which authorities said violated broadcasting ethics and Tanzanian norms4 6. In 2017, Roma and three colleagues were kidnapped from their studio, questioned, and tortured—a chilling reminder of the risks faced by critical artists4. Deputy Minister Juliana Shonza barred Roma from performing or operating a music business until he changed his lyrics, underscoring the direct link between artistic content and artists’ livelihoods4.

Sifa Bujune and Gospel Artists: Songs of Protest, Charges of Crime
In September 2023, gospel singer Sifa Bujune and her colleagues Salome Mwampeta and Hezekiel Millyashi released “Mnatuona Nyani” (“You See Us As Apes”), a song highlighting police brutality. Authorities charged them under the Cybercrime Act of 2015 for “publishing false information,” alleging the song’s claims about police violence were fabricated5 7. The prosecution drew widespread criticism and was seen as a new low in the suppression of artistic freedom. After months of legal limbo, the case was dropped in December 2023 due to lack of government interest, but the chilling effect lingers. Many saw the episode as a warning to other artists: criticism of state institutions can land you in court5 7.

Bujune’s earlier song “Tanzania Inaelekea Wapi?” (“Where is Tanzania Headed?”) was also pulled from all platforms in September 2023 for its critical tone1.

Zuchu: Pop Star in the Crosshairs
Zuchu, one of Tanzania’s most popular musicians, was banned from performing in Zanzibar for six months in March 2024 after a show authorities claimed was sexually explicit and violated local customs. She was also fined for performing without proper registration and forced to issue a public apology1. The incident highlights how even mainstream, commercially successful artists are not immune to censorship—especially when their performances are perceived as challenging social or moral boundaries.

Whozu and Billnass: Video Ban Sparks Debate
In 2023, the music video for “Ameyatimba” by Whozu and Billnass was banned by BASATA for allegedly perpetuating rape culture. While some supported the decision, others saw it as another example of the council’s overreach and the growing restrictions on artistic content1.

Other Bongo Flava Artists: Madee, Nikki Mbishi, Jux, Barnaba

Madee was fined and banned from performing until he paid the fine after his song “Nakojoa Pazuri” was deemed inappropriate by BASATA in December 2023.
Nikki Mbishi’s “I’m Sorry JK,” Jux’s “Uzuri Wako,” Barnaba’s “Nampaga,” and other songs by popular Bongo Flava artists have been banned for violating “ethics” or “national values”6 4.

Visual Artists: Shadrack Chaula’s Conviction
Censorship has also reached the visual arts. In July 2024, Shadrack Chaula, a visual artist from Mbeya, was convicted under cybercrime laws and sentenced to two years in prison (or a $2,000 fine) after a video of him burning a photo of the president went viral. Authorities cited violations of cultural norms and laws, though specifics were vague1.

The Broader Context: Laws, Fees, and Chilling Effects
BASATA’s powers are reinforced by a web of other restrictive laws, including the Media Services Act and amendments to the Statistics Act, which have collectively created a culture of repression across creative and journalistic fields1. The controversial Cybercrime Act of 2015 is often used to prosecute artists and journalists for “false information,” further shrinking the space for dissent5 7. The 2018 and 2023 regulatory updates introduced new administrative fees and requirements, making it harder—and more expensive—for independent artists to operate. Rapper Nikki Wa Pili and the secretary general of the Tanzanian Urban Music Association, Samwel Mbwana, have both criticized the impact of these fees, warning they will have “negative effects on the industry” and stifle emerging talent1.

Public Response: Shifting Tides
While the authorities’ actions have fostered fear and self-censorship among many artists, there are signs of growing public resistance. In September 2024, Zuchu was heckled and pelted with bottles by a crowd in Mbeya after she praised President Hassan on stage—a rare public rejection of pro-government messaging1. Online, fans warned her not to repeat the chant at her next show. Conversely, Nay Wa Mitego’s defiant stance has earned him widespread support, both virtual and financial, from fans who see him as a voice for the voiceless1. This shift in public sentiment suggests a growing appetite for artistic freedom and a rejection of state-imposed narratives.

International Attention and Advocacy
The crackdown on artistic freedom in Tanzania has not gone unnoticed internationally. Outlets like Courrier International and Pan African Visions have covered the censorship of Nay Wa Mitego, while organizations such as Culture and Development East Africa have mapped and condemned the suppression of creative expression1. The Mapping Report on Artistic Freedom in Tanzania (2024) documents the breadth of censorship and calls for urgent reforms.

BASATA’s Critics: Is “Ethics” Code for Compliance?
Critics argue that BASATA’s invocation of “ethics” and “national values” is often a smokescreen for enforcing political compliance. When music that praises the government is lauded and rewarded, while critical voices are prosecuted, the council’s claim to be upholding morals rings hollow1. As one commentator put it, “ethics” has become “code for compliance,” and entrusting their enforcement to a government entity is inherently problematic.

Visual artist Amani Abeid summed up the dilemma:

“The impact [of] their work can have is at the mercy of the National Arts Council”1.

The Chilling Effect: Creativity Under Siege
The cumulative effect of these policies and prosecutions is a pervasive culture of self-censorship. Many artists now avoid controversial topics, fearing bans, fines, or worse. The result is a creative sector increasingly dominated by safe, government-approved content, with little room for dissent or innovation1 7.

As the Mapping Report on Artistic Freedom in Tanzania notes, “Most Bongo Flava artists are currently firmly situated within that status quo, with no sign of budging”1.

Legal Reform and the Path Forward
Legal scholars and advocates have called for reforms to limit BASATA’s censorship powers and to ensure that artistic freedom is protected in line with Tanzania’s constitution and international commitments2. Recommendations include:

Clarifying and narrowing the definitions of “ethics,” “morals,” and “public order” to prevent abuse.
Establishing independent review bodies to oversee censorship decisions.
Reducing administrative fees and barriers for artists.
Encouraging judicial challenges to unjust bans and prosecutions.

Despite these calls, progress has been slow. Most artists remain wary of challenging BASATA in court, and the council shows little sign of loosening its grip2.

References

1 The Republic, “The Political Dilemmas of Tanzania's Music Artists,” March 2025.
2 Leonard Chimanda, “Law and Censorship of Artistic Works in Tanzania: The Case of BASATA,” University of Dodoma.
3 BBC, “Tanzania rapper Nay wa Mitego freed after Magufuli criticism,” March 2017.
4 Music In Africa, “Tanzania music ban 'a futile exercise',” March 2018.
5 The Chanzo, “Court in Mbeya Drops Case Against Artists Who Sung About Police Brutality,” December 2023.
6 CGTN Africa, “Tanzania bans Diamond Platnumz's hit songs,” June 2023.
7 The Chanzo, “Artists in Tanzania Demand Creative Freedom: 'We're Being Censored',” November 2023.

Tanzania's creative sector is at a breaking point. From banned songs to jailed artists, the space for free artistic expression is shrinking fast. The National Arts Council (BASATA) now regulates everything from lyrics to visual art under vague “morality” laws.

Cases like rapper Nay Wa Mitego and singer Zuchu reveal a growing intolerance for dissent. Legal reforms are urgently needed to protect Tanzania’s cultural future.

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