The Zanzibar Arts, Censorship, Film and Culture Council has banned the new generation artist Zuhura Othman Masoud, popularly known as Zuchu, from carrying out all artistic activities on the islands of Zanzibar.
In addition to banning her from carrying out artistic activities, it has also banned Zanzibar radio and television stations from playing all her songs for a period of six months.
The move comes after an incident on February 24 this year when Zuchu, while performing at the Full moon Kendwa Night in North Unguja Region, was accused of singing songs, making pronouncements and showing bad signs that are contrary to Zanzibari morals.”
The specific songs, pronouncements, and signs that Zuchu is accused of are not specified in the text. However, the Zanzibar Arts, Censorship, Film and Culture Council has stated that they are “contrary to Zanzibari morals.” This suggests that they may be considered to be offensive, indecent, or otherwise inappropriate.
According to Mwananchi, The statement Reads “Baraza la Sanaa, Sensa, Filamu na Utamaduni la Zanzibar, limemfungia msaanii wa kizazi kipya Zuhura Othman Masoud maarufu Zuchu kuendesha shughuli zote za sanaa visiwani Zanzibar.
Mbali na kumfungia kuendesha shughuli za sanaa, pia imepiga marufuku redio na televisheni za Zanzibar kupiga nyimbo zake zote kwa kipindi cha miezi sita. Hatua hiyo imekuja baada ya tukio la Februari 24 mwaka huu Zuchu wakati akitumbuiza katika usiku wa Fullmoon Kendwa Mkoa wa Kaskazini Unguja kudaiwa kuimba nyimbo, kutoa matamshi na kuonyesha ishara mbaya ambazo ni kinyume na maadili ya kizanzibari.
Akizungumza leo Machi 5, 2024 ofisini kwake na waandishi wa habari, katibu mtendaji wa baraza hilo, Omar Abdalla Adam amesema baraza limemfungia kwa kipindi cha miezi sita kuanzia sasa.
“Baraza lina wajibu wa kusimamia mila, silka desturi na utamaduni wa Mzanzibari, kwa hiyo linatamka rasmi kumfungia msanii Zuhura Othman Soud (Zuchu) kufanya shughuli yoyote ya sanaa kwa Zanzibar kwa kipindi cha muda wa miezi sita kuanzia leo Machi 5, 2024,” amesema.
Amesema wanafanya hivyo kutokana na tabia yake kuimba nyimbo ambazo hazina maadili, hazifuati misingi na hazina afya njema kwa jamii ya Wazanzibari.
Pia, amesema licha ya msanii huyo kutokuwa na usajili Zanzibar lakini amekuwa akiendesha shughuli zake za sanaa bila kupata kibali.
Mbali na adhabu hiyo, pia msanii huyo ametakiwa kulipa faini ya Sh1 milioni moja kwa Baraza la Sanaa na aandike barua ya kuomba radhi na kuthibitisha kwamba hatafanya kosa hilo ndani ya kipindi alichofungiwa.”
