Tanzanian superstar Diamond Platnumz recently broke his silence on social media, addressing the controversy surrounding his absence from the Furaha Fest performance.
Despite receiving a reported $150,000 to headline the event, the artist left without taking the stage and clarified that he would not refund the payment.
In a candid video directed at his fans, Diamond emphasized that he usually avoids engaging in "baseless social media drama." However, he felt compelled to share his perspective, noting that his primary motivation for making music is to spotlight East Africa on the global stage.
Diamond explained that when he arrived at the venue, he encountered chaos and confusion, which raised serious safety concerns.
"The security situation at the venue was highly questionable," he stated. "I stayed in my car, waiting for the event organizers to call me to perform."
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He clarified his approach to similar situations, saying, "If the organizers fail to call me to the stage within my allocated time, I will leave without performing, and there will be no refunds."
Kenyan artist Willy Paul had accused Diamond of preventing him from performing at the event. In response, Diamond dismissed the claims, calling them an attempt to provoke him.
"Willy Paul has been trying to stir up drama online, but I’ve chosen to ignore him. His claims don’t even make sense," Diamond remarked.
According to the Tanzanian artist, Willy Paul was stopped from "forcefully entering other people’s shows," which was the real reason for the conflict.
Diamond's manager ultimately decided to escort him back to the hotel after it became evident that the situation could not be resolved.
"It was already early morning, and performing at that hour would not have been worthwhile. My manager decided it was best to leave," he explained.
Diamond also touched on the broader issue of Kenyan music industry policies, suggesting that sentiments like Willy Paul’s are part of a more significant trend. He criticized the enforcement of a 75% local music rule, which he believes limits the exposure of Tanzanian music in Kenya.
