Naseeb Abdul Juma Issack, professionally known as Diamond Platnumz, is a

Tanzanian Demographic features of the population of Tanzania include population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations, and other aspects of the population. The population distribution in Tan ...

bongo flava recording artist, dancer, philanthropist and businessman. He is the founder and CEO of

WCB Wasafi Wasafi Classic Baby (WCB) is a Tanzania-based record label founded by musician Diamond Platnumz. WCB's commercial roster includes Diamond Platnumz, Mbosso, Zuchu, Lava Lava, Queen Darleen, and ''D Voice.'' The label is headquartered at Mb ...

Record Label, Wasafi Bet and Wasafi Media. Diamond has gained a massive following in East and Central Africa. He became the first Africa-based artist to reach 900 million views on YouTube. After signing a record deal with

Universal Music Universal Music Group N.V. (often abbreviated as UMG and referred to as Universal Music Group or Universal Music) is a Dutch– American multinational music corporation under Dutch law. UMG's corporate headquarters are located in Hilversum ...

in 2017, Platnumz released his third studio album, ''

A Boy from Tandale A, or a, is the first letter and the first vowel letter of the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, and others worldwide. Its name in English is '' a'' (pronounced ), plural ''aes''. It is similar in shape to the Ancient G ...

'' (2018). In 2021, Diamond together with his record label

entered into a 360 Partnership with Warner Music Group.

Career

He started his music career in 2006 at the age of 18 years old while selling clothes. He would record songs with the money he earned from the clothes' business and eventually recorded his first single "Toka Mwanzo", a Bongo flava song fused with R&B. The song was not successful commercially. His breakthrough hit single "Kamwambie" was released in 2010. The song won three Tanzania Music Awards. He then released his debut studio album ''Kamwambie'' same year in 2010. In 2014, Platnumz earned a nomination at

BET Awards 2014 The 14th BET Awards were held at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles, California on June 29, 2014. Chris Rock was announced as the host for the awards show on May 14, during the network's 106 & Park music video countdown show. Beyoncé l ...

for Best International Act:

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent after Asia. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 20% of Earth's land area and 6% of its total surfac ...

. Platnumz has frequently collaborated with videographer Director Kenny for his music videos. The music video for "Waah", directed by Kenny, was nominated for "Best African Video" at the 2021

All Africa Music Awards All Africa Music Awards (also referred to as AFRIMA) is an annual awards event to reward and celebrate musical works, talents and creativity around the African continent while promoting the African cultural heritage. Its pioneer Awards show was ...

. With over 100 Million views on YouTube, Waah is one of the most watched Tanzanian music videos on YouTube. Countries artists feat with Diamond Platnumz

Countries artists feat with Diamond Platnumz

In 2022, he released his 10 tracks extended playlist known as First Of All (FOA) where he featured top artists like

Zuchu Zuhura Othman Soud, better known by her stage name Zuchu, is a Tanzanian singer and songwriter born on 22 November 1993, in Zanzibar. She is currently based in Dar es Salaam and is signed to WCB Wasafi record label. Early life Zuchu hails fr ...

Adekunle Gold Adekunle Almoruf Kosoko (born 28 January 1987), known professionally as Adekunle Gold and AG Baby, is a Nigerian Afrobeats singer and songwriter currently signed to Def Jam Recordings. He gained widespread attention after releasing the 2015 hit ...

Focalistic Lethabo Sebetso (born 26 May 1996), professionally known as Focalistic, is a South African rapper. He rose to prominence after his single " Ke Star", reached number 16 on Billboard Top Triller Global charts. Born and raised in Pretoria, Sebetso w ...

and many other top African artists. First Of All has been described as a blend of R&B, Bongo Flava and Afrobeats and to promote the EP, Diamond Platnumz for the first time in Tanzania premiered all music videos from the FOA EP at the cinema. In 2023 Diamond Platnumz released his second collaboration with Congolese musician,

Koffi Olomide Antoine Christophe Agbepa Mumba (born 13 July 1956), known professionally as Koffi Olomidé, is a Congolese singer-songwriter, dancer, producer, and founder of Quartier Latin International. Often referred to as the "King of Ndombolo", he is not ...

marking his second feature with Koffi after ''Waah'' released in 2020. In 2023, Diamond Platnumz won his third MTV EMA as the Best African Actor.

Personal life

Source: Diamond is a Muslim by religion. With his former partner, South African-based

Ugandan Demographic features of the population of Uganda include population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and others. Population According to the total population was in , comp ...

businesswoman

Zari Hassan Zarinah Hassan (born 23 September 1980), commonly known as Zari Hassan, alias Zari the Boss Lady, is a Ugandan socialite, musician, businesswoman and actress. She resides in South Africa. She is the heiress and CEO of ''Brooklyn City College'' ...

, he has two children. He became a father for the third time with Tanzanian model

Hamisa Mobetto Hamisa Hassan Mobetto (born December 10, 1994), is a Tanzanian singer, actress, businesswoman and socialite. Early life and education She was born in Mwanza, Tanzania on 10th December 1994 to a Muslim family and was passionate about modelling as ...

. As of 2019 Diamond was dating Kenyan model and musician

Tanasha Donna Tanasha Donna Oketch (born 7 July 1995) is a Kenyan model, singer, entrepreneur and former radio presenter for NRG Radio. Biography Personal life Tanasha Donna was born in Kenya on 7 July 1995 to a Kenyan mother and an Italian father. Donna spe ...

, with whom he fathered one son, born in October 2019. The two have since separated with

flying back to her home country, Kenya. Diamond is the cousin of

socialite-cum-DJ, Romeo Abdul Jones, professionally known as Romy Jones. He also has two sisters, musician Queen Darleen, and entrepreneur-socialite Esma Platnumz. In 2010, he endorsed Tanzania's dominant ruling party, the

Chama Cha Mapinduzi The Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM, ) is the dominant, ruling party in Tanzania and the second longest-ruling party in the history of Africa, only after the True Whig Party of Liberia. It was formed in 1977, following the merger of the Tanganyika A ...

(CCM) and its presidential candidate,

Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete (born 7 October 1950) is a Tanzanian politician who was the fourth president of Tanzania, in office from 2005 to 2015. Prior to his election as president, he was the Minister for Foreign Affairs from 1995 to 2005 under h ...

. He has released further songs with lyrics supporting CCM, such as "''CCM Tusonge Mbele''" ("CCM Let's Move Forward"). In the 2022 Kenyan general election Diamond Platnumz endorsed and performed at the

Raila Odinga Raila Amolo Odinga (born 7 January 1945) is a Kenyan politician who served as the Prime Minister of Kenya from 2008 to 2013. He was the Member of Parliament (Kenya), Member of Parliament (MP) for Langata Constituency from 1992 to 2013 and has ...

campaign rally at Kasarani held on 6 August 2022 just 3 days before the election. Diamond has also been said and in various occasions confirmed that he is dating fellow

label mate,

Commercial activities

On 23 January 2019, Diamond Platnumz was officially introduced as Pepsi Brand Ambassador in East Africa. On 13 September 2019, Diamond Platnumz became Brand Ambassador of Parimatch Africa. On 25 September 2019, Diamond was named the Nice One Brand Ambassador. On 4 March 2020, Diamond Platnumz was unveiled as the new Brand Ambassador of Coral Paints (Tanzania). On 11 December 2021 he launched Wasafibet in partnership with Odibets-a Kenyan Sports betting company. In April 2022 he was unveiled as the new brand ambassador for

Airtel Tanzania Airtel Tanzania Limited is the third-largest mobile network operator in Tanzania operated by Airtel Africa, which is a subsidiary of Bharti Airtel of India, behind Vodacom Tanzania and Tigo Tanzania. As of September 2017, Airtel Tanzania had 10. ...

Awards and nominations

He is the most decorated music artist in East and Central Africa.

Discography

Albums

*2010: ''Kamwambie'' *2012: ''Lala Salama'' *2018: ''

'' *2022: ''First Of All''

Singles and collaborations

Featured in

"Watora Mari" (

Jah Prayzah Mukudzeyi Mukombe (born 4 July 1987), better known as Jah Prayzah, is a Zimbabwean contemporary musician and lead member of the band ''Third Generation''. Regarded as the most prolific musician of his generation in the country and an exceptional ...

ft. Diamond Platnumz)

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Diamond Platnumz Living people 21st-century Tanzanian male singers People from Dar es Salaam Tanzanian Muslims Swahili-language singers of Tanzania Tanzanian Bongo Flava musicians Year of birth missing (living people)