Kenyan govt bans Taka Taka song

“The song 'Taka Taka' is characterised by crude language that objectifies women and glorifies hurting them as a normal reaction to the rejection of overtures by men,” KFCB boss Ezekiel Mutua said during a press conference on 16 April. He added that Alvindo had two weeks to appear before the board and failure to do so would lead to legal action against him.

Alvindo risks losing his membership with Kenya's collective management organisations, and by extension his music royalties.

“The board has instituted the take-down procedures of this song from all online platforms. Moving forward, the song should not be performed live or broadcasted anywhere within the Republic of Kenya. No DJ should play the song either on a broadcast station or in any entertainment," Mutua said.

The Swahili-sung 'Taka Taka', which translates to 'rubbish', was produced by KrG the Don of the Fast Cash Music Group label.

The song's lyrics seem to be meant as a joke, but have hit a nerve at a time when femicide is on the rise in the East African nation:

Unakataa Kuwa dem yangu (You refused to be my girlfriend)
Naenda kwa Mrogi nakuroga unakufa (I am going to bewitch you)
Na nakujaa kwa mazishi yako (And then I will attend your funeral)
Kukula na kukunywa (To eat and drink)
Nikucheke ukizikwa (I will laugh at you being buried).

Mutua said the KFCB had noted that there had been too many spousal homicides in the country and such a message could encourage more violence.

“Some of the artists sing such music to sound controversial and gain a following upon which they make money,” he said.

On 15 April, the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) in Kenya released a statement condemning the killing of women and girls. “FIDA Kenya is horrified by the rate of femicide in the country," it said. "In the period between January and April 2019, over 50 femicide cases have been reported in the media. It is worse that a section of the public discusses these incidences with insensitivity on social media laying blame on the victims. Kenyans should adopt a culture that seeks to identify, report and testify against perpetrators of GBV [gender-based violence]."

But the KFCB's reaction has given 'Taka Taka', which is arguably not a contender for a best vocal performance or production award, unprecedented mileage, with many YouTube commentators saying that the only reason they searched for the songs was because of its censoring this week.

One post said, "Ezekiel you brought me here ... I have never heard of this song", while another added, "Ezekiel Mutua making people famous."

The song had amassed more than 1 million views at the time of publishing.