The creative economy has become one of the country's fastest-growing sectors, driven by musicians filling arenas across Africa, filmmakers landing international streaming deals and digital creators building businesses from their smartphones.
But as Parliament debates the Finance Bill 2026, many in the industry fear the proposed changes could make it more expensive to create, distribute and monetise content.
At the heart of the debate is an amendment that expands the definition of royalties under the Income Tax Act, potentially bringing more creative-sector earnings under tax obligations.
While the government seeks to modernise tax laws and capture revenue from the digital economy, the proposals risk burdening a sector already struggling with funding and monetisation challenges.
Singer and songwriter Dan Aceda says the biggest concern is the absence of incentives for creatives.
