The government has urged artists, creators, and stakeholders in Tanzania’s creative sector to register their works with a view to help protect their rights and allow them to earn income from their creations, especially in today’s digital age where art theft is rising.
The call
was made by the Minister for Industry and Trade, Dr. Selemani Jafo, during the
World Intellectual Property Day celebration held on May 21, 2025, in Dar es
Salaam.
Dr. Jafo
said that registering creative works is not optional—it is an important
economic tool, especially for a country aiming for a knowledge-based industrial
economy.
“Intellectual
property is not just a legal certificate. It is an economic weapon in today’s
world. If we fail to protect it, we lose income, jobs, and development
opportunities,” Dr. Jafo explained.
He gave
examples of Tanzanian artists who have turned their stage names into business
brands. These include Nandy (Sha Sha), Juma Jux (African Boy), Diamond Platnumz
(Chegu), Harmonize (Konde), Alikiba (Kiba), and Hamisa Mobetto (Mobetto Style
Boutique). According to Dr. Jafo, these cases show how intellectual property
can create legal earnings.
The
minister also praised the efforts of BRELA and COSOTA for helping artists claim
their rights. However, he urged both institutions to improve digital royalty
collections from platforms such as Spotify, YouTube, and Boomplay. He noted
that while many Tanzanian artists are gaining fame online, not all of them are
making money.
“This is
the time for COSOTA to focus more on tracking and collecting digital earnings.
Our artists deserve proper payment. It is not only a legal issue—it is a matter
of justice and ethics,” he said.
Dr. Jafo
emphasized the need for cooperation among government institutions like BRELA,
COSOTA, BASATA, and TCRA. He said the government is reviewing and improving
intellectual property laws and joining global agreements to strengthen
protection inside and outside Tanzania.
He also
applauded the launch of the first-ever National Intellectual Property Awards
(NIPA) by BRELA. According to the minister, the awards encourage innovation and
recognize the role of creativity in national development.
“These
awards are not just honors for innovators—they inspire new ideas that can help
solve social problems,” he said.
For those
who did not win awards this year, Dr. Jafo encouraged them to keep creating and
to ensure their works are registered and protected to avoid illegal use.
The
minister thanked WIPO and ARIPO for partnering with Tanzania in raising
awareness and strengthening creative rights protection. He also urged artists
to be ambassadors of peace ahead of the 2025 general election.
“There is
no music or creativity without peace. Artists should be at the front line in
spreading peace,” he noted.
The
celebration brought together creators from various sectors who showcased their
products, including clothing, artwork, technology apps, and renewable energy
tools. Dr. Jafo toured the exhibitions and praised the high quality of
creativity that reflects Tanzanian culture.
During his
speech, Dr. Jafo also announced that Tanzania’s National Intellectual Property
Policy is now complete. He said the policy will improve registration systems
and support creative individuals in getting the value they deserve from their
work.
“This
policy is a national guide. We don’t want creators to suffer after working hard
on an idea only for it to be stolen. We want them to benefit fully,” he said.
BRELA
Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Godfrey Nyaisa, said that despite Tanzania’s music
success on global platforms, the failure to register creative works remains a
major problem.
“Many artists have not registered their work, and this causes big financial losses. Music is not just entertainment—it is a business that needs legal protection,” he said.
He
explained that BRELA has expanded its services and artists can now register
online. He added that intellectual property education continues in partnership
with COSOTA, schools, and development organizations.
“There are older artists whose songs are still played today, but they do not earn anything because their works were never registered. This is a loss for their families,” Mr. Nyaisa added.
He encouraged young people to use their knowledge to create products or services that help society and improve their lives.
The COSOTA Executive Officer shared that since 2001, over 3,200 music works have been registered, and more than 395 artists have joined.
In 2023 alone, over Sh2.7
billion was paid to artists in royalties.
Still, he
admitted that the numbers are low compared to the number of works produced
every year. He called for stronger laws against intellectual property theft and
better monitoring of creative content on platforms like YouTube, Spotify, and
TikTok.
World
Intellectual Property Day is marked every year to promote the importance of
protecting creative works in achieving sustainable development.
This
year’s theme was "IP and music: Feel the beat of IP," emphasizing the
role of IP in supporting a thriving music scene.
Dr. Jafo
closed the event by saying: “Tanzania’s path to industrialization needs brave
creators who register and protect their work. Let us build a country that sees
creativity as an economic and social treasure.”