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Media station TV47 recently got on the wrong side of the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) after airing Femi One and Mejja’s song, Utawezana.
According to a letter issued by the CA, TV47 went against the Kenya Information and Communications Act, 1998 that prohibits display of sexually explicit words during watershed periods.
“The offensive content is a song by Femi one and Mejja dubbed, Utawezana with sexually explicit lyrics. The song played on your station on 11th April 2020 at 10:06am,” read part of the letter from CA.
Part IV (1) of the Kenya Information and Communications (Broadcasting) Regulations 2009 (20) states that; “(a) exercise care in order to avoid content that may disturb or be harmful to children, that has offensive language, explicit sexual content or violent material, music with sexually explicit lyrics which depict violence; (b) not broadcast programmes with the content specified in paragraph (a) during watershed period.”
READ ALSO: Femi One's manager defends ‘Utawezana’, responds to Ezekiel Mutua
The CA went on to warn against any future reoccurrence that would lead to dire consequences.
“In this regard, Communications Authority cautions TV47 to adhere to the standards of good taste and decency during the watershed period to avoid offending audiences, especially children. Please note that failure to comply with the legal provisions on broadcast content standards will result in regulatory action under the law.
“In addition you are required to submit to the Authority, within days from the days of this letter, details on the corrective measures that you will institute to avoid recurrence of such incidences.”
Kenya Film Classification Board
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About a week ago, the Kenya Film Classification Board Boss, Dr Ezekiel Mutua condemned the song terming it as obscene and perverted. Taking to Twitter, Dr Mutua shamed media houses airing the song, warning against the promotion of sexual content by artists.
“The perverts who are creating such obscenity like 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.
READ ALSO: Ezekiel Mutua reacts to ‘Utawezana’, issues warning
“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.
According to Dr Mutua, industry players who flout guidelines risk missing out on government funding.
Allow artists to be creative
Defending the production was Femi Ones’s manager, Dennis Njenga who asked Dr Mutua to allow artists space to be creative.
"We appreciate the work Ezekiel is doing but let artists be creative. Femi One and Mejja have managed to put a smile on the faces of not only Kenyans but that of East Africans too; considering the Covid-19 situation. This is purely entertainment," noted the executive at Kaka Empire.
