Controversial gospel singer Embarambamba has been given a chance to redeem himself after facing a hefty fine from the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) for producing “dirty content”.
The singer, who is known for his eccentric antics and stunts in his music videos, had claimed that he received a demand letter from KFCB, ordering him to delete all his videos from YouTube and pay KES 6.4 million or face seven years in jail.
However, following the intervention of the Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK) and the Majority Chief Whip in the National Assembly, Sylvanus Osoro, the singer has agreed to an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) process with KFCB and vowed to create meaningful and clean content.
MCSK CEO Ezekiel Mutua, who is also the former head of KFCB, said that Hon. Osoro, who hails from the same region as Embarambamba, showed leadership by initiating a dialogue between the singer and the regulator.
“As Majority Chief Whip and a leader in the region Embarambamba comes from, Hon. Osoro showed leadership by making a call to me yesterday to meet and discuss the punishment meted on the singer and find an amicable solution to the problem,” Mutua said.
He added that Embarambamba, who is a member of MCSK, had made a public apology and deleted most of the unpalatable content on his videos on YouTube.
“Embarambamba is a member of MCSK and our desire as an organisation is to see him stop the madness he has been doing in the name of content. He has made a public apology and deleted most of the unpalatable content on his videos on YouTube. Now he can use his energy and massive following to create meaningful content. We are willing to help him on this,” he said.
Mutua also said that the fine of KES 6.4 million by KFCB was not realistic and that suing the singer would have been a lengthy and futile process.
“The fine of KES 6.4M by KFCB is not pocket change. There’s a maxim in law that says ‘You do not sue a man of straw.’ This matter would obviously have ended up in court and probably drag on for years. Establishing an alternative mechanism to get the matter sorted is a win-win,” he said.
He further said that the ADR process did not mean that Embarambamba was off the hook, but that KFCB would review his case on the basis of the retribution measures and the commitment by the artist to change his ways.
“The whole purpose of regulation is not to stifle creativity but to correct mistakes and encourage our artists to create clean content. The fact that the parties involved have agreed to an ADR process does not in any way mean that Embarambamba is out of the woods. It means that KFCB will review his case on the basis of the retribution measures meted vis-a-vis the mitigation measure and commitment by the artist to change his ways. As MCSK we shall render all the support needed to see this process through,” he said.
Embarambamba, whose real name is Christopher Nyangwara Mosioma, had earlier appealed to Kenyans for support and sympathy, saying that he was only trying to make a living through his music.
“Bad news from Embarambamba, I have received a letter from the KFCB. They have ordered me to delete all my videos from YouTube because of dirty content. They have also told me to take KSh 6.4 million to the office. I tried to apologise but they told me without that money I would be jailed for seven years,” he said in a TikTok video.
The singer has been a subject of controversy and criticism for his unconventional style of music, which often involves rolling on the ground, climbing trees, jumping on animals, and performing in muddy or dirty places.
