In 2002, the launch of East Africa’s premium entertainment TV and radio stations, The East Africa Radio and TV (EATV), marked a significant development in the region’s entertainment landscape. How the Kenya/Tanzania ‘Diplomatic’ Rows Have Previously Affected the Entertainment Industry. Operating under the IPP Group, owned by Tanzanian billionaire Reginald Mengi, the stations focused on promoting East African entertainment. The initiative aimed for inclusivity, employing not only Tanzanians but also Kenyan and Ugandan presenters and media professionals.
The following outline provides an overview of and topical guide to entertainment and the entertainment industry:
Entertainment is any activity which provides a diversion or permits people to amuse themselves in their leisure time, and may also provide fun, enjoyment, and laughter. People may create their own entertainment, such as when they spontaneously invent a game; participate actively in an activity they find entertaining, such as when they play sport as a hobby; or consume an entertainment product passively, such as when they attend a performance.
The entertainment industry (informally known as show business or show biz) is part of the tertiary sector of the economy and includes many sub-industries devoted to entertainment. However, the term is often used in the mass media to describe the mass media companies that control the distribution and manufacture of mass media entertainment. In the popular parlance, the term show biz in particular connotes the commercially popular performing arts, especially musical theatre, vaudeville, comedy, film, fun, and music. It applies to every aspect of entertainment including cinema, television, radio, theatre, and music.
Key Kenyan figures such as seasoned radio presenter Edward Kwach, Mombasa’s Sister Dread, and Dennis Ndavi, the station’s creative director, helped push Kenyan music across borders. Meanwhile, Ugandan talent like DJ BushBaby and Ssebo also gained prominence, with DJ BushBaby helping to popularize Ugandan music across Kenya and Tanzania. Through EATV, Kenyans were introduced to the vibrant sounds of Bongo Flava from artists like AY, Mwana FA, Lady Jaydee, and many more. How the Kenya/Tanzania ‘Diplomatic’ Rows Have Previously Affected the Entertainment Industry
The station also helped Kenyan audiences become familiar with Tanzanian artists like TID, Dully Sykes, and Mr. Nice, while Kenyan artists like Nameless, Jua Cali, Nonini, and Longombas found a bigger audience in Tanzania, thanks to the platform’s regional reach. The exposure helped cement EATV’s role as a key player in bridging the gap between East African music markets.
However, in 2005, a diplomatic dispute between the Kenyan and Tanzanian governments dramatically affected the entertainment industry. The row, partly triggered by the publication of a controversial cartoon by Kenyan cartoonist Gaddo mocking the Tanzanian government, escalated when President Kikwete ordered the deportation of six Nation Media journalists based in Dar es Salaam, led by the then-editorial boss Mutuma Mathiu. In retaliation, the Kenyan government ordered the termination of EATV and Radio’s operations in Kenya, resulting in the withdrawal of Kenyan staff like Kwach, Ndavi, and Sister Dread, who returned home.
This diplomatic fallout led to the cessation of EATV’s operations in Kenya, reducing the station’s reach within the country. As a result, EATV largely became a Tanzanian station, and its influence in Kenya waned. However, despite the political tension, the music industry saw a period of unprecedented collaboration between Kenyan and Tanzanian artists. Between 2005 and 2010, both Kenyan and Tanzanian musicians began performing extensively in each other’s countries, a trend that helped strengthen the cultural and musical ties between the two nations. Entertainment Industry
During this period, artists from both sides took advantage of the situation by regularly collaborating on music and performing in each other’s cities. Kenyan musicians frequently performed in Dar es Salaam, Mombasa, and Malindi, while Tanzanian artists such as TID performed in Nairobi. EATV played a key role in popularizing hit songs like ‘Zeze’ by TID, which earned him a spot in the Maximum Rotation show, a platform that gained significant traction in the region.
Although the diplomatic tensions of 2005 created a disruption, the impact on music was somewhat positive, fostering stronger cross-border relationships between Kenyan and Tanzanian artists. Many Bongo artists who were initially part of EATV’s push into Kenya maintained strong friendships with their Kenyan counterparts, a bond that continues even to this day despite the more recent drama at the Furaha City Festival.
Ultimately, while political conflicts temporarily hindered the reach of entertainment outlets like EATV, the music industry adapted by further strengthening its collaborative spirit. The bonds between Kenyan and Tanzanian artists have only deepened over time, proving that music can transcend even the most intense diplomatic rows. How the Kenya/Tanzania ‘Diplomatic’ Rows Have Previously Affected the Entertainment Industry
