DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania — Tanzania’s National Arts Council (BASATA) has fined Bongo Flava star Harmonize TSh5 million and ordered him to halt artistic activities over the music video for his new project, Kudos, as the regulator steps up enforcement of rules governing the country’s entertainment industry.
BASATA said Harmonize, whose real name is Rajab Abdul Kahali, distributed the Kudos video despite content the council deemed inconsistent with Tanzanian moral standards and disrespectful to viewers.
The regulator ordered Harmonize to remove the video from his social media platforms and pay the TSh5 million fine within 14 days. He has also been barred from undertaking artistic activities until he complies with the council’s directives.
The action follows a summons issued by BASATA on September 22 requiring Harmonize, Nandy, video director Kenny and model and Miss Universe Tanzania country director Millen Magesse to appear before the council. At the time, BASATA did not publicly disclose the reasons for the summons.
According to reports citing BASATA’s subsequent decision, Harmonize had not submitted a defence or alternative explanation concerning the allegations by the time the ruling was issued.
Kudos video director Kennedy David Sanga, popularly known as Director Kenny, was also fined TSh5 million. BASATA said he was responsible for directing material it found to have breached the standards governing artistic works. He was similarly ordered to remove the video and suspend artistic activities until he complies with the regulator’s directives.
Nandy fined over Miss Universe Tanzania outfit
In a separate case, Tanzanian singer Faustina Charles Mfinanga, popularly known as Nandy, was fined TSh3 million over an outfit she wore while performing at the Miss Universe Tanzania 2026 final in Dar es Salaam.
BASATA described the clothing as indecent and contrary to standards requiring artists to respect their audiences. The council said Nandy admitted the violation, removed the relevant video from her social media platforms and paid the fine. She has subsequently been allowed to continue her artistic activities, subject to the council’s oversight.
The organiser of Miss Universe Tanzania, Millen Prive & Co. Lifestyle Limited, was also fined TSh3 million and issued with a warning over the incident. Separately, Avil Contractors Company Ltd, organiser of Miss Grand Tanzania, was fined TSh3 million for allegedly holding the event without the required BASATA permit.
The sanctions are being imposed under BASATA’s 2026 regulations. The council's official website lists the National Arts Council Regulations, 2026, published in June this year.
BASATA has urged artists, producers, event organisers and other players in Tanzania’s creative industry to comply with the laws, regulations, guidelines and ethical standards governing artistic activities.
The latest action places two of Tanzania’s most prominent music stars at the centre of a renewed debate over artistic expression, regulation and standards in one of East Africa’s biggest entertainment markets.
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Category: Entertainment
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