Diamond Platinumz Defends Furaha Fest No-Show, Addresses Rumors on Social Media

Tanzanian music superstar Diamond Platinumz has broken his silence following his controversial no-show at the much-hyped Furaha Fest, where he was expected to headline the event.

The singer took to social media to clarify rumors surrounding his absence and his decision to leave the venue despite being paid a hefty $150,000 for the performance.

In a video posted for his fans, Diamond explained that while he usually avoids engaging in “foolish social media rumors,” he felt it was important to share his side of the story.

He emphasized that his primary motivation for making music is to bring international recognition to East Africa, and he was disappointed by the chaotic situation that unfolded at the event.

“I do not like getting involved in petty social media drama, but I had to clarify what happened because I take my work seriously,” Diamond said. “My goal has always been to put East Africa on the map through music, but the situation at Furaha Fest was not conducive for a performance.”

Diamond revealed that upon arriving at the venue, he encountered a series of issues, primarily concerning the state of security, which led him to make the decision to stay in his car while waiting to be called on stage.

“The security state of the venue was very questionable,” he explained. “I decided to sit in my car and wait for the organizer to call me. If my time to perform was up, I had no intention of performing. I will not refund any money.”

The singer also addressed claims made by Kenyan artist Willy Paul, who had tearfully taken to social media to accuse Diamond of preventing him from performing before the Tanzanian star. Diamond dismissed the allegations, stating that Willy Paul had been trying to provoke him on social media, which he had been ignoring. “Willy Paul has been trying to provoke me online, and it’s foolish to engage in that,” Diamond said. “He was trying to force his way into shows where he wasn’t supposed to perform, which is why he was stopped.”

Diamond’s manager later escorted him back to his hotel after the event, as it was too late for a performance and the crowd’s enthusiasm had dwindled. The Tanzanian star also hinted at deeper issues, alleging that Willy Paul’s sentiments towards Tanzanian artists were part of a broader issue in Kenya, where he claimed local radio stations favored Kenyan music over East African artists.

In response to the situation, Diamond made it clear that he had no intentions of engaging in further drama and expressed his desire to move on from the controversy. The artist reiterated that his focus remains on creating music that represents the region and continues to inspire his fans across the globe.