Tanzania’s decision to build a $172 million indoor arena is a game-changer for East Africa’s creative industry. For years, governments in the region have focused on sports, pouring billions into stadiums while ignoring the arts. Now, following pressure from musician Diamond Platnumz, Tanzania has finally recognised the value of entertainment infrastructure.
Our region has produced some of Africa’s biggest stars such as Diamond Platnumz, Sauti Sol, Jose Chameleone—yet we struggle to host world-class concerts. Why? Because we lack the right facilities. Looking at what happened at the Trace Music Summit in Zanzibar, where the stage kept falling apart, brought a great feeling of shame to the entertainment industry. Such incidents can only be damaging to our credibility and push international artists and investors away.
Meanwhile, countries that invest in entertainment infrastructure are reaping the benefits. Rwanda’s BK Arena has hosted global stars, proving that the creative industry is a money-making machine. Yet in Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, and South Sudan, entertainment spaces remain an afterthought. Nairobi, for instance, is a cultural hub, yet it still lacks a proper concert arena.
For too long, East African governments have prioritized football stadiums alone. Sports are important, no doubt, but entertainment is just as valuable. A single international concert can boost tourism, create jobs, and grow the local economy. Imagine what a modern indoor arena could do for Nairobi, Kampala, or Dar es Salaam. If Kigali can host John Legend, why can’t others?
💬 “What’s frustrating is that it took Diamond Platnumz’s public outcry to get Tanzania to act. This exposes a deeper problem: Our leaders do not take creative industries seriously.”
They see entertainment as a luxury instead of an economic investment. The fact is, music, film, and the arts are billion-dollar industries worldwide. We can’t afford to keep ignoring them.
Kenyan actor and screenwriter Abel Mutua has been vocal about this issue, and he’s right. East Africa needs to wake up. If one country is making progress, the rest should follow, not out of competition, but in unity. A regional approach to investing in entertainment could put East Africa on the global map, alongside South Africa and Nigeria.
Tanzania has set the pace. Now, it’s time for the rest of East Africa to step up. The creative industry is not just about fun—it’s about the future. And that future starts with serious investment.
Isaac Mwangi writes on social, political and economic issues in East Africa. Email:isaacmmwangi@gmail.com
