DODOMA, TANZANIA — The Tanzanian government has reported a significant achievement in fostering harmony within the nation’s creative sector, marked by a considerable reduction in disputes among artistes. Minister for Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, Prof Palamagamba Kabudi, informed Parliament on Tuesday, May 7, 2025, of this progress.
Presenting the ministry’s budgetary estimates of Sh519.66 billion for the 2025/26 fiscal year, Prof Kabudi underscored the instrumental role of the National Arts Council (Basata) in protecting artists’ rights through its Legal, Ethics, and Arbitration Desk, which facilitates mediation.
“Out of 18 disputes received between July 2024 and April 2025, 15 have been resolved, while the remaining three are at different stages of resolution,” stated Prof Kabudi.
He further elaborated, “This trend shows a noticeable decline in interest-based disputes among 70 stakeholders in the creative sector, thanks to the Council’s ongoing initiatives, including providing education and legal advice related to contracts in the arts industry.”
Supporting this, Baraza la Sanaa la Taifa (BASATA) has proactively addressed a key source of conflict: poorly managed contracts. The council has introduced standard contract models for the music industry, aiming to clarify essential agreement elements and thereby prevent future disputes.
Mr. Abel Ndaga, Basata’s senior arts officer, noted that many past conflicts handled by the council originated from contractual misunderstandings.
Turning to the film sector, the Minister highlighted the Tanzania Film Board’s efforts to ensure artists receive their rightful benefits.
“During the reporting period, the Film Board received and addressed three complaints from stakeholders. The presence of this committee has led to a significant drop in complaints, from 12 in the 2023/24 financial year to only three in 2024/25,” he explained.
Between July 2024 and April 2025, the Film Board facilitated the industry by issuing 154 licenses for film and theatre activities nationwide. Furthermore, in a move towards formal recognition, “In our continued efforts to officially recognize film and drama artists, the Board has issued 168 identification cards to individuals in this space—formally integrating them into the government’s system,” Prof Kabudi affirmed.
The reported decrease in disputes, coupled with Basata’s proactive measures regarding contracts, signals a positive trajectory for the Tanzanian arts and culture landscape, fostering a more stable and collaborative environment for its creative professionals.
