Diamond Platnumz & Rayvanny’s 'Mwanza' Has Been Banned In Tanzania
It's been deemed "too vulgar" to be played in the country.
Tanzania's national arts council, Baraza la Sanaa Tanzania (BASATA) has banned Diamond Platnumz and Rayvanny's latest single "Mwanza," and slapped the artists with a hefty fine due to its sexual content.
The board has ordered the label Wasafi Records to remove the track from all digital platforms, and it will no longer be played on the radio or in clubs in Tanzania, reports Kahawa Tungu. The popular song has over 2 million views on YouTube.
The ban has resulted in a fine of 9 million Tanzanian shillings ($3,924) for the two artists and the record label, reports Nairobi News.
BASATA claimed that the artists were aware of the country's strict laws around morality before they produced the record. The artists met with the board to discuss the banning on Tuesday.
"This song isn't good at all," said Godfrey Mngereza head of BASATA, according to Nairobi News. "We even asked Rayvanny in the meeting if he can sing the lyrics of the song before his parents and his answer was no. This is a clear indication that even in the singer's eyes, the song goes against the morals," he added. He added that given the artist's popularity and star status, the lyrics would negatively impact youth listeners.
According to Kahawa Tungu, this is the third Diamond Platnumz song to be banned in the country after the songs 'Hallelujah' featuring Morgan Heritage and 'Waka' featuring Rick Ross.