The National Arts Council (BASATA) has announced that it has forgiven the ban on performing arts activities for musician Hamad Ally, popularly known as Madee, after the artist paid a fine and revised his song as required in the statement of punishment.
It should be noted that on December 14, 2023, the National Arts Council, through the 1984 Act No. 23 and its 2019 Amendments, Section 4(p), imposed the penalty on the musician after publishing a song (titled Nakojoa Pazuri) with content that violated BASATA’s 2018 regulations and the 2023 Guidelines for Respecting Ethics in Art Works.
In addition, the artist has been allowed to use his revised song in his art activities, including publishing it on social media and digital platforms.
“The council will not tolerate any violation of ethics in art activities, so it urges all artists to do their work in accordance with the 2023 Guidelines for Respecting Ethics in Art Works, which are available on the website www.basata.go.tz as well as hard copies at the BASATA office,” said BASATA in a statement.
The council’s decision was welcomed by many artists, who said it was a sign that BASATA was committed to protecting the arts industry. However, some critics said the decision was too lenient and that Madee should have been banned for a longer period of time.
Madee is a popular Tanzanian musician who has been in the industry for over a decade. He is known for his controversial lyrics, which have often been criticized for being sexually suggestive
