The Kenya Film and Classification Board (KFCB) CEO Dr Ezekiel Mutua has threatened to crack the whip on artistes he says are churning out “immoral content”.
Taking to Twitter, Dr Mutua used Femi One and Mejja’s latest track ‘Nikikupea Utawezana’ to warn against what he said was the promotion of obscenity.
“The perverts who are creating such obscenity like "Nikikupea Utawezana" should be ashamed of themselves. Media houses promoting such crap too are a disgrace. Artistes should be creating inspiring content to help combat COVID-19 pandemic, not promoting sexual perversion
“Our artistes must not glorify immorality in the guise of creativity. The Okonkwo Utawezana nonsense is a shallow, bizarre sexual perversion. There’s absolutely nothing creative there. That lady would be ashamed to sing such crap before her mother,” he wrote.
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According to Dr Mutua, industry players who flout guidelines risk missing out on government funding.
“The government has a duty to protect children from premature exposure to adult content. Those producing, broadcasting, distributing or exhibiting immoral content will not benefit from Government funding and public events funded by the government,” he warned.
He noted that he is disappointed for he had hoped that artists would use the quarantine period to make meaningful music and give hope to the society.
“This COVID-19 crisis should have been a perfect opportunity for our artistes to prove their worth to society by creating hope, by producing meaningful content. But what do we see? Dirty, shallow and unpalatable content that's bereft of intellectual depth or inspiration. Shame!
“Right now kids are at home and have access to technology as an essential tool for their studies. It’s wrong to have content that can ruin their morals being circulated with wanton abandon. It’s worse when mainstream media begins to glorify such dirty content by giving the creators airtime on TV or radio,” said the KFCB boss.
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Backlash
His sentiments were, however, not welcomed by a section of Kenyans who accused the official of stifling talent.
“Wah hiyo pesa wasanii walipewa watatishiwa nayo kweli kweli,” commented fast-rising rapper Stevo SimpleBoy.
“The dirty content you don't like pays him and is entertaining to others,” added a user by the name Eric Haala.
Unmoved by the backlash, Dr Mutua buttressed his stand: “Those kids who keep insulting me on social media for condemning their obscene content and immoral activities will one day thank me for raining on their parade. They will grow up and realize how lucky they are that somebody stopped them from sliding further into the abyss!”
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To others, however, the controversial figure was spot on in policing content.
“Thank Dr @EzekielMutua for your attempt in restoring sanity this generation that is consumed in a modernized moral decay. What a shame!”wrote @Kanyirijose
@Jokeyo_ added saying, “Sanity is what we need period! A change in the entertainment industry begins with you and me. Say not to music content which has sex scenes, nudity, vulgar language etc. We can't sink this low and we call ourselves youths for change!!! Change for what??? Immoralities?”
