Audio By Carbonatix
Tanzania's Arts and Information Minister Harrison Mwakyembe has dismissed a new song by rapper Roma Mkatoliki which criticises the government, saying the musician "lacks the academic credentials" to question state policies.
"You can criticise but you should have the knowledge and education to qualify to be a critic. You can't citicise someone like me, for example, if you have primary school education. I have four degrees," Mr Mwakyembe told journalists.
Roma, whose real name is Ibrahim Mussa, is known for his political activism - his new song is called Anaitwa Roma, Swahili for "They call him Roma".
In it he lambasts the government's decision last year to deploy the army to buy cashew nuts from farmers as a way of trying to force middlemen to increase their prices. The policy, critics say, did not work.
Roma also criticises President John Magufuli's push to revive the national airline Air Tanzania, saying it would have been better to improve healthcare.
He also criticises Tanzanians for not joining a call for protests against President Magufuli's policies.
The music video has got more than 500,00 views and 3,000 comments since it was uploaded on YouTube three days ago.
Many of his fans are praising him but some are worried about his safety, telling him to be careful.
The musician was kidnapped and held for three days, along with other artists, in 2017.
He told journalists after he was freed that he had been tortured.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
From selling food to solving problems: How Esther Owusu Nkwantabisah rethought entrepreneurship
37 minutes -
Explained: Ghana’s water plant deal that produced a $235m judgment debt instead of water for 500,000 people
49 minutes -
High Cost of Domestic Airline Fares: Can government do something about it?
53 minutes -
Inflation, cedi depreciation put BoG’s MPC under pressure as policy rate decision looms
1 hour -
Lawyer denies Salomey Baffoe received money from ‘Ghana Jollof’ account operator
1 hour -
Beyond politics: Why Kwame Nkrumah’s ideals still matter for today’s leaders
1 hour -
Top South African policeman charged with sexual offences
2 hours -
More than 170,000 respiratory cases recorded in haze-choked Indonesia
2 hours -
Narrowed space, intolerance – Sammy Crabbe says NPP is driving talented members away
2 hours -
We’re not analytical enough – Sammy Crabbe calls for data-driven decision-making
2 hours -
Tonto Dikeh celebrates Bobrisky as birthday tribute sparks online reactions
2 hours -
Peter Okoye tells court he received over $800,000 in P-Square royalties
3 hours -
I’ve never had problems with artistes – Rema addresses alleged fight with Davido
3 hours -
I was mocked for getting pregnant out of wedlock as pastor’s daughter – Davido’s baby mama
3 hours -
Young John rejects collaboration request from Blaqbonez over old tweet
3 hours