MCSK CEO Ezekiel Mutua has revived a debate on high licensing fee rates for foreign artists who come to Kenya.
Mutua was responding to the debate of why Azimio La Umoja hired Diamond Platnumz for their last political rally yesterday.
According to Mutua, foreign artists can not be avoided in Kenya but suggested that they should be highly taxed and the money used to develop our industry.
He opinionated;
"While we cannot stop anyone from engaging foreign artists to perform at their events, including political rallies, such foreign artists should pay higher rates for licenses and the money used to develop our industry."
Mutua had earlier on said that Kenya Revenue Authority incurs losses in revenue whenever the artists perform in Kenya.
This is because the artiste coordinates with the club managers to perform and send the revenue directly to their countries while Kenya gets nothing.
Fans also had mixed reactions toward Diamond performing at a Kenyan political rally.
Harris Kabue: Ksh.8.5million paid to him for a few hours show meant to pull crowds for the state project, after misusing local musicians shouting on lorries' tops around the country. That shows a lack of confidence in themselves, and local artists and an insult to Kenyan patriotism.Bilia bel was in azimio campaigns and past events of, joho's Ali Kiba, Atwoli's DRC lingala guys et al.
In 2019, while working at the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) boss Ezekiel Mutua banned Harmonize and Diamond’s hit song Kwangwaru.
Speaking in Mombasa, Mutua made it clear that he would not allow Diamond and other foreigners whose music has been banned in their countries to perform in Kenya.
Mutua said that the content of the song Kwangwaru undermines the country’s culture and values. "There will be no singing or performing of coded music by young children that they cannot understand," he explained.
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