Tanzanian rapper Webiro Wasira, better known as Wakazi, has been ordered by a Dar es Salaam court to pay $38,000 (Tsh100 million) in damages to musician-turned-politician Clayton Chipando, popularly known as Baba Levo, for defamation.
Baba Levo had sought compensation of $2.3 million (Tsh6 billion).
The Resident Magistrate’s Court in Kisutu found the US-based rapper liable for defaming Baba Levo, who currently serves as Member of Parliament for Kigoma Town.
In its judgment, the court held that false claims shared by Wakazi across his social media platforms damaged Baba Levo’s reputation in both music and business.
The dispute goes back two years, when Baba Levo lost his luggage and phones during a trip in the US and Türkiye, with the items later recovered at Istanbul Airport. He took to his social media, which boasts over five million followers, to inform fans of the incident.
But Wakazi, known for his sharp-tongued critiques of Tanzania’s music industry and its players, went online and queried Baba Levo’s story and tagged brands associated with the politician. The claims quickly snowballed, amplified by blogs and entertainment outlets across Tanzania.
Baba Levo moved to court, seeking Tsh6 billion in damages, including compensation for defamation and additional sums for mental distress and psychological harm caused.
Although the court found Wakazi at fault, it did...
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