Tanzanian officials have stopped a famous rapper, Nay wa Mitego, from performing in the country because of his new song that criticizes the government. The song, called Amkeni,” which means “Wake Up” in Swahili, strongly disapproves of the country’s leaders. It even suggests that the president is supporting dishonest people and not keeping promises. The song also talks about a deal between the government and a company from the United Arab Emirates to manage Tanzania’s port operations.
Nay wa Mitego was questioned by the police in Dar es Salaam and then released on bail. He’s accused of trying to stir up trouble. His lawyer, Jebra Kambole, explained that the authorities, both the country’s arts regulator (Basata) and the police, believe the song has words that might make people upset. They not only banned the song but also stopped him from performing in Tanzania.
Nay wa Mitego’s lawyer argues that the song is not trying to cause trouble. Instead, it’s meant to talk about issues like corruption, abuse of power, and problems with the port. He says the goal of the song is to highlight the government’s mistakes and make things better.
This isn’t the first time Nay wa Mitego has gotten into trouble for his songs criticizing national matters. He’s been arrested and let go a few times before.
SOURCE:BBC