Ezekiel Mutua: DCI, go for Ethic music group!

Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) CEO, Ezekiel Mutua, has urged the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to arrest music group, Ethic, over their new controversial song called Tarimbo.

The four-member group comprising Rekles, Swat, Zilla and Seska released a new song on Thursday, October 31, called Tarimbo, which, Dr Mutua says, “advocates for sexual violence against women”.

“Kama ana maringo, mimi hupenda chapa na tarimbo. Mimi huchapachapa na nakanyaga, namwaga bila hata permission [Contextual translation: If she is full of pride, I love reining in on her with my manhood. I usually have sex with her aggressively, and even step on her. I, thereafter, ejaculate in her against her will]”.

The song’s lyrics have touched the nerve of Ezekiel Mutua, who says he has reached out to Google to bring down the music video from YouTube.

As of Saturday, November 2 at 11:50am, the music video was still up on the platform, with 230, 000 views registered.

“I have spoken to Google to take down the damn crap called Tarimbo by Ethic Entertainment which advocates for rape of women. Promoting violence against women is criminal,” said Ezekiel Mutua in a statement shared on his Facebook page on Friday, November 1.

“The DCI should arrest the entire bunch of musicians called Ethic, under Article 33, for going beyond the prescribed delimitations on freedom of expression by advocating for violence against women.

“When we banned Wamlambez people said we were killing creativity. I asked these morons if they could shout Wamlambez before their parents and they said they could. I was baffled.

“These so-called musicians and performers have defied everything decent societies holds dear. They have thrown morality to the four winds in the name of money and popularity.

“My interpretation of Wamlambez and Tarimbo is that these are not artists. They are demented circus thugs hiding behind art to promote indecency.”

Dr Mutua has urged DJs to stop playing the quartet’s music in nightclubs and other entertainment joints.

“Any self-respecting DJ should not play these songs. No club should allow music that advocates for violence against women. Unless decent people rise against the wave of immorality in Kenya, we are going to lose a generation in the name of creative freedom. No freedom is absolute. This time round we must draw the line!”

Several Facebook users agreed with Ezekiel Mutua’s sentiments.

Mercy Musyimi said: "I remember in the beginning of the year, these so-called Kenyan artists lamenting how we don't value our own but c'mon, I can't listen to this [Tarimbo] even behind closed doors because it's giving me only negative energy.”

Frank Karani said: "I agree with you Daktari. The [moral] decadence in the song is utterly disgusting. However, that would be a temporary and reactive measure, what are you doing to make a deterrent of such crap?"

Caleb Wafula Wasilwa: said: “True. How can someone think of singing such profanity? It's sickening.”

However, a section of the Facebook users differed with the KFCB boss, asking him to leave Ethic to “thrive”, saying: “We are in a free world.”