Rose Muhando Opens Up on Betrayal and Arrest

Why Did Rose Muhando’s Breakthrough Song Come From Deep Pain?

Veteran Tanzanian gospel artist Rose Muhando is opening up about a painful chapter in her life that eventually shaped one of her biggest musical milestones. She recalls being betrayed, framed and arrested at the airport just as she was preparing to travel to the United States, a trip that later inspired her hit song “Nibebe.”

In a heartfelt conversation with Lady Bishop Kathy Kiuna, Muhando shared how the emotional weight of that experience became the foundation of a song that deeply resonated with her audience. She described the intensity of the struggle behind its creation, saying, “Mungu alininua nikaimba mteule uwe macho nikaimba Nibebe, Nibebe ndio nyimbo ambayo itaishi kwa sababu nilipitia machungu duniani. Shetani aliinuka akanifitini nikafanyiwa ubaya mwengine mpaka polisi nikapelekwa nikawekwa ndani.”

The trouble, she explained, began within her church community after her first manager was jailed. Left alone to navigate ministry work with her choir members, she was approached by someone she had never collaborated with before. He offered to manage her, and she trusted him. Over time, she grew uncomfortable with his demands and distanced herself, especially when she received a performance invitation to the United States.

She recalled, “Huko kanisani tukiishi tukitumikia Mungu, wakati meneja wangu wa kwanza aliwekwa ndani gerezani nikawa mweenyewe na wana kwanya.” She added, “Sasa ikaja mtu mmoja lakini hanijui akaniambia sasa nitakusimamia nikamwambia sawa akaniambia kama kutakuwa na shida na sema, nikamwamini lakini ikaja tokea mambo mengine hayakuwa sawa mimi sikuyapenda ikabidi nijitenge.“ The situation escalated when he allegedly claimed he would block her from traveling. “Katika kujitenga nikapata mwaliko kwenda America kwa vile yeye alikuwa anataka vitu na mimi sikuzifanya akasema siwezi enda America atahakikisha sitaenda.“

The betrayal deepened after someone close to her accused her of stealing a significant amount of money. She recounted, “Sasa nikaenda bahati nzuri yele mtu ambaye alinisaidia alitoka gerezani akapata niko kwa process ya kwenda marekani sasa yule mchungaji akamweta akamwambia ‘unajua huyu ameiba pesa hapa siku zote offisini mwangu millioni tisa ya Tanzania nikasema ata sijawai enda offisini kwake.’”

What Happened During the Airport Arrest?

On the day she was set to fly to Texas, the gospel singer was arrested at the airport. She said, “Basi siku hiyo tulikuwa na mlezi wangu tunaenda marekani Texas tumealikwa, tunafika airport nikakamatwa nikawekwa chini ya ulinzi. Nkaambiwa nimeiba pesa yanikarudishwa Dodoma.”

At the police station, her passport was confiscated and her car taken as bond. However, she was still permitted to travel the following day. “Nilifika polisi wakachukua passport yangu, uzuri ,mkuu wa upelelezi alikuwa ameokoka aliniita akaniambia ‘gari lako iko wapi?’ nika mwambia nyumbani akaniambia ‘kailete’ nkatuma dereva akaileta pale polisi,” she explained. She continued, “Akasema gari itabaki hapa kama dhamana alafu asubuhi nkaondoka nikaenda kupanda ndege nikaenda zangu marekani wakasema nikirudi ndio tutaongea kesi.”

While in the United States, still processing the pain of the betrayal, she created “Nibebe,” one of her most impactful songs. “Nilipokuwa marekani ndio nilitengenezea nyimbo Nibebe kwa sababu nilikuwa na machungu,” she said.

When she eventually returned home, Muhando chose forgiveness. She bought herself a new car and gifted her previous vehicle, the same one she had left at the police station, to the person who had accused her.

By Modester Nasimiyu