Tanzanian Music Star Diamond Platnumz Breaks Silence on Furaha City Festival Absence
Popular Tanzanian musician Diamond Platnumz, born Naseeb Abdul Juma Issack, has finally spoken out about his unexpected absence from the Furaha City Festival held at the Nairobi Polo Club Grounds.
The Bongo Flava artist, who was reportedly paid $150,000 (approximately Ksh19 million) to headline the event, left without performing, citing disorganization and delays as the main reasons for his departure.
In a video message to his fans, Diamond explained that the chaotic organization at the venue and the prolonged wait to be called on stage influenced his decision to leave.
“The security at the venue was questionable, and I waited in my car to be called on stage for my performance,” he stated. “I made it clear that I would only perform when I was called. If my performance time passed, I would leave without refunding any money.”
Diamond Platnumz revealed that he waited for over three hours and, by 3 a.m., was still not called to perform. He believed that performing at such a late hour would not have been enjoyable for the fans as they would have been too tired to fully engage.
“It was too late to perform, and the fans wouldn’t have been in the right mood. So, I decided to go back to the hotel with my manager,” he added.
The singer also addressed accusations that he refused to perform because another artist, Willy Paul, was allowed to take the stage before him. Diamond clarified that as the headlining act, it was customary for other artists to perform first.
“As the headliner, I understand that other artists perform before me. However, closing the show at 4 a.m. or 6 a.m. when the audience is exhausted wouldn’t have made sense,” he explained.
He emphasized that he would not be refunding the Ksh19 million payment he received for the live performance, as the organizers failed to honor the agreed-upon terms.
“I cannot force myself to perform when the conditions are not right. You have paid me, and I will wait for my turn. If that time never comes, I will leave without a refund because the contract was breached on your end,” Diamond stated.
Despite his absence, the event organizers acknowledged the challenges, apologized for the situation, and praised other artists such as Zuchu and Rayvanny for their outstanding performances during the festival.
They expressed their commitment to addressing the issues raised and improving the organization of future editions of the festival.
“We appreciate the incredible talent, energy, and professionalism displayed by Kenyan artists at the festival. Rayvanny and Zuchu from Wasafi put on remarkable performances,” they said.
“While we respect Diamond Platnumz’s status as a top-tier artist, we also expect professionalism and respect in our collaborations. We will work towards resolving these issues amicably and ensure better success for future Furaha City Festival editions,” the organizers added.
Diamond concluded by expressing his disappointment with the situation but reiterated that the responsibility for a successful show ultimately falls on the organizers.
