Entertainment
Why I don’t feature in local awards – Diamond Platnumz
Multi-award-winning Tanzanian musician Diamond Platnumz has shed light on why he has shunned featuring in many music awards from his home country.
Diamond Platnumz, while speaking in a wide-ranging interview at a press briefing, recently said he distanced himself from most awards because he was sceptical of their credibility.
‘’Do you know why I wouldn’t have wanted to be involved? Because the awards were managed in a way that was not fair,’’ the 34-year-old Mapoz crooner said.
His absence from local music awards was particularly noticeable in 2023, when he won Best African Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards.
He beat music heavyweights across the continent, such as Burna Boy and Asake from Nigeria and South African DJ Tyler ICU.
But back home in Tanzania, he was not featured in most local awards for best male artist.
Diamond also said that he distanced himself from local awards because of the problem of artist control.
‘’You know I do not want awards out of sympathy; when I deserve it, give it to me, when I don’t, then deny me. Most of the time, the organising committee wants to control you. At my age, I can’t do that,’’ he said at the press conference.
Awards organisers in Tanzania deny claims of impartiality, saying awards are given to artists who have applied and presented their materials to be screened by a jury panel.
Critics of Diamond have accused him of being an artist who struggles to play by the rules.
Last year, he was banned by Tanzania’s music regulatory board, Baraza la Sanaa la Taifa (BASATA), from performing any shows or organising any concerts in Tanzania.
BASATA announced the ban after the Diamond performed “Mwanza” in Tanzania. Mwanza was released in 2018 and outlawed by authorities for its highly explicit content.
Diamond’s team told fans on social media at the time that efforts were being made to resolve the ban and put all of Diamond’s shows back on schedule.
Diamond says his music goals have gone beyond clutching local awards, as he has his eyes set on claiming the global music stage for Tanzanian music.
He also took a swipe at Nigerian show promoters, whom he says underestimate him as an artist.
“Nigerians have a habit of underestimating you, even though they know your power. So when a show comes up, I say I want this much. If you don’t want to, I won’t go. That’s it. Short and clear.’’
Conversations around Diamond’s absence at local awards have reared up, especially as the music awards season for 2024 fast approaches.
Nominees for major music awards events across the continent are scheduled to be announced before the middle of the year, and music fans in Tanzania hope Diamond Platnumz will be on the nominees list, getting all the awards that he truly deserves.
Big Brother Naija’s ‘No Loose Guard’ housemate, Tjay, is the new Head of House for week 7, earning immunity from eviction. He secured the title after winning the game, taking over from Onyeka, who was the first solo HoH of the season. The housemates are now competing individually following their unpairing in week 5.
Big Brother Naija’s ‘No Loose Guard’ housemate, Tjay, has emerged as the new Head of House (HoH) for week seven.
Tjay secured the prestigious title after winning the competitive Head of House game on Monday evening, succeeding Onyeka, who was the first solo HoH of the season.
Also read: How BBNaija positively impacted our relationship – Zinwe
Tjay’s win grants him immunity from this week’s eviction, a major advantage as the competition intensifies.
The position of HoH is awarded every week through either a game or an election, and the winner is given the responsibility of leading the house for the week.
This season of Big Brother Naija started with housemates competing in pairs, but Biggie unpaired them after the fifth week, allowing each housemate to battle individually for the ultimate grand prize.
Tjay’s victory marks a key moment in the competition as he navigates the responsibilities and privileges of HoH in a fiercely competitive environment.
Big Brother nomination drama unfolded after a surprise twist in the eviction process. Housemates were forced to publicly announce their votes, leading to intense tension and nine housemates being put up for eviction.
Drama erupted in the ‘No Loose Guard’ house on Monday after Big Brother introduced an unexpected twist to the nomination process.
The week’s Head of House (HOH), Tjay, was first announced, followed by Biggie giving the housemates paper and pens. The housemates were initially instructed to secretly write down the names of two fellow contestants for eviction.
However, Big Brother then surprised the house by changing the rules, requesting each housemate to stand up and announce the two names they had written for eviction to everyone in the room.
This twist added a new level of tension and transparency to the game.
Here’s how the housemates voted:
– Kassia: Topher and Sooj
– Anita: Ozee and Shaun
– Shaun: Chizoba and Kellyrae
– Ozee: Ben and Kassia
– Victoria: Sooj and Chizoba
– Wanni: Kellyrae and Sooj
– Onyeka: Kellyrae and Victoria
– Sooj: Kassia and Kellyrae
– Handi: Sooj and Kellyrae
– Kellyrae: Onyeka and Shaun
– Chizoba: Victoria and Kellyrae
– Topher: Victoria
– Nelly: Victoria and Ozee
– Ben: Victoria and Kassia
– Ocee: Ben and Nelly
– Tjay: Kassia and Sooj
After all nominations were tallied, Kellyrae, Victoria, Sooj, Kassia, Chizoba, Shaun, Topher, Ben, and Ozee found themselves on the list for possible eviction.
This dramatic shift has raised the stakes in the house, leaving the nominated housemates on edge as they await their fate.
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**Excerpt:**
Big Brother nomination drama leaves nine housemates up for eviction after a shocking twist in the voting process.
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**Tags:** Big Brother, No Loose Guard, eviction drama, housemates, nomination twist
Afrobeats star Ayra Starr reveals in a Dazed Magazine interview that despite her “lover girl” image, she has never been in a fully committed relationship.
Afrobeats sensation Ayra Starr, born Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe, has revealed that she has never fallen in love.
In a candid interview with Dazed Magazine, the 21-year-old Grammy-nominated artist discussed her love life and admitted she has never been in a fully committed relationship.
Despite her image as a “lover girl,” Starr attributes her single status to her intense focus on music and other pursuits since she was 15.
Starr shared, “I want to fall in love. I wrote ‘Lagos Love Story’ about what love would look like if I was. I am a lover girl deep in my heart, I’m just very strong headed about it. I actually have never been in love.”
She mentioned that while she has been in certain situations, she has not had the time to fully explore love due to her busy career.
Starr’s new album, *The Year I Turned 21*, and her hit track “Bloody Samaritan” have cemented her status as a rising star in Afrobeats.
In the interview, she also hinted at enjoying her current single life and keeping an open mind about future possibilities.
Related posts:
Tjay emerges as Big Brother Naija week 7 head of house
Big Brother nomination drama shakes up the ‘No Loose Guard’ house
“Ipele” Movie, Directed by Foluke Daramola, Premieres September 12 on Apata
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