The National Arts Council of Tanzania (BASATA) has fined Tanzanian singer Nandy for wearing an outfit deemed inappropriate during the Miss Universe Tanzania 2026 pageant held at Haddypro Hall in Dar es Salaam. According to BASATA, Nandy's outfit was contrary to the country's cultural values and norms. The incident occurred during the grand finale of the pageant.
BASATA stated that Nandy's outfit was indecent and could have offended the audience. The council also mentioned that Nandy had apologized for her actions and removed the incriminating photos from her social media accounts. By accepting responsibility for her actions and paying a fine of 3 million Tanzanian shillings, Nandy was allowed to continue her artistic career under close monitoring.
In addition to Nandy, BASATA also fined Millen Privé & Co. Lifestyle Limited, the organizers of Miss Universe Tanzania 2026, 3 million Tanzanian shillings. The company was found to have contributed to the incident by allowing Nandy to perform in the outfit. They were given 14 days to pay the fine and were warned to be more vigilant in ensuring that future events conform to cultural norms.
BASATA has urged artists and entertainment industry stakeholders to respect Tanzanian laws, regulations, and cultural values. This warning comes after the council recently imposed penalties on singer Rajab Abdul Kahali, popularly known as Harmonize, for similar offenses. The council is determined to enforce cultural norms in the entertainment industry.
Nandy is a renowned Tanzanian female artist with a significant presence in the Bongo Flava genre. She began her music career in the early 2010s and gained widespread recognition in 2016 with her song "Nagusagusa". The song catapulted her to international fame, and she has since released several hit songs, including "One Day", "Ninogeshe", and "Aibu".
Throughout her career, Nandy has received several awards and nominations. In 2017, she won the "Best Female Artist in East Africa" award at the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), which she also won in 2020. Her debut album, "The African Princess", was released in 2018 to critical acclaim.
Nandy was previously fined approximately 1.4 million Rwandan francs by BASATA for a similar offense. The fine was imposed after she was found guilty of wearing an outfit deemed inappropriate during a performance. With this latest fine, Nandy has been put on notice to adhere to Tanzanian cultural norms in her future performances.
Key points
- Nandy was fined 3 million Tanzanian shillings for wearing an inappropriate outfit during the Miss Universe Tanzania 2026 pageant.
- The National Arts Council of Tanzania (BASATA) also fined the event organizers, Millen Privé & Co. Lifestyle Limited, 3 million Tanzanian shillings for their role in the incident.
- Nandy has been warned to adhere to Tanzanian cultural norms in her future performances, and her career will be closely monitored by BASATA.
