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Tanzanian authorities have banned popular rapper Emmanuel Elibariki, known as Nay wa Mitego, from performing in the country over his new song that criticises the government.<\/p>\n
The rapper was questioned on Wednesday by police for hours in Dar es Salaam and later freed on bail over accusations of incitement, his lawyer, Jebra Kambole, told the BBC.<\/p>\n
The song Amkeni, Swahili for Wake Up, is highly critical of the leadership in the country and includes a line that appears to accuse the president of \u201cnurturing thieves\u201d and failing to deliver on her promises.<\/p>\n
It also criticises the government\u2019s deal with a company from the United Arab Emirates to develop and run Tanzania\u2019s port operations.<\/p>\n
The lawyer told the BBC that the artist is facing accusations of incitement by both the country\u2019s arts regulator, Basata, and the police.<\/p>\n
“Basata have complaints saying that the song seems to have provocative words, but not only that, they have banned the song and have forbidden him from performing in Tanzania,\u201d Mr Kambole said.<\/p>\n
The lawyer said they had explained to the police why the song \u201cis not inciting\u201d saying it speaks about corruption, abuse of power and the port among others.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe song does not incite people, it\u2019s meant to show the shortcomings of the administration and the goal of the song was to correct people,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
It is not the first time that the artist is in trouble with the authorities – he has been arrested and released several times in the past because of his songs criticising various national issues.<\/p>\n
Source: BBC<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n
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