Google Deletes Controversial Song 'Tarimbo' by Kenyan Music Group Ethic

Google has deleted from YouTube 'Tarimbo', a controversial song done by Kenyan music group Ethic Entertainment.

This comes a week after Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) CEO Ezekiel Mutua wrote to Google asking it to pull down the song from their platforms. 

Mutua described the song as ‘crap’, saying it advocates for violence and rape of women even as he urged Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to take action against the musicians.

“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 and 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,” Mutua said.

Mutua, popularly known as the Kenyan 'moral policeman', took to Facebook to commend Google for deleting the song from YouTube.

“Tarimbo is now totally deleted from YouTube and the channel owner served first warning. After a third violation, the channel will be totally deactivated. We thank Google for supporting our efforts to clean the digital space and make it safe for children,” wrote Mutua.

He added: “Soon such filth like 10/10 will also be off the air and those using such channels to corrupt the morals of our children will have their recompense here and in the life to come.”

On Tuesday, Ethic apologized to their fans after the song caused a stir, saying they did not intend to objectify women in their music and they strongly condemned rape.

“It has come to our attention that our latest single ‘Tarimbo’ has stirred up mixed reactions and elicited various negative interpretations from different quarters.”

“As recording artists, it is our sole duty to entertain our fans and NOT deploy our content to propagate hate against any person, most importantly women,” the group said in a statement.