By Osoro Nyawangah, DAR ES SALAAM Tanzania
Tanzania’s lead musician, Naseeb Abdul, popularly known as Diamond Platnumz has failed for the third time to win the BET Awards 2021 in the Best International Act category giving way to Nigerian, this time due to massively organised campaign by his 'countrymen'.
The 2021 BET Awards were handed out on Sunday night and multiple award-winning Nigerian singer, Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu popularly known as Burna Boy was announced winner for the category.
Diamond’s 2021 BET Award nomination stirred an intense hate debate against him on social media folowing petition launched by Change Tanzania, a social movement focused on bringing positive and sustainable change in the East African country.
The petition signed by more than 25,000 people meant to raise voice for disqualification of Diamond Platnumz for his support to the autocratic rule in Tanzania during the late John Magufuli's presidency.
A good number of Tanzanians, including fellow musicians, admitted to siding with Nigeria’s Burna Boy or WizKid on voting day.
The petitioners accused the ‘Waah’ hitmaker of using his artistry and influence to publicly support the autocratic rule.
"Diamond Platnumz is a world-renowned Tanzanian artist who used his popularity and his talent to whitewash and deodorise the brutal repression of the late dictator John Magufuli and his regime,” Change Tanzania said.
The petition continued: “Diamond Platnumz is a self-avowed CCM (Cha Mapinduzi) party member and was the lead musician for the CCM campaign in 2015 and 2020. In 2020, despite a huge outcry locally and internationally against Magufuli and his regime, Diamond endorsed this brutal dictator, dedicated a song to him (‘Magufuli Baba Lao’) and several times took to stage with him during the campaign.”
Other reasons highlighted in the petition include the musician’s failure to show solidarity with his fellow artists, including rappers Roma Mkatoliki and Nay wa Mitego, who were arrested in 2017 for using music as a call to action against human rights abuses and authoritarian rule in the country.
“Diamond Platnumz chose to protect and expand his personal business interest by praising and using his star power to soften the image of a brutal dictator and his collaborators.”
Change Tanzania believes that “once BET independently verifies these facts, it will be clear that Diamond Platnumz does not deserve any recognition in these prestigious awards.”
The BET Awards did not disqualify him as requested by the campaigners and maintained his name and of Aya Nakamura (France), Burna Boy (Nigeria), Emicida (Brazil), Headie One (U.K.), Wizkid (Nigeria), Young T & Bugsey (U.K.) and Youssoupha (France) in the contest list whereby Burna Boy of Nigeria won.
Reacting to the Award outcome, Diamond Platnumz said he consider himself a winner for reach that far and for painting Tanzania's name on the world's map.
"I consider myself and the country, a winner for reaching this far! We, together have learned a lesson; I wish next time an artist from Tanzania may be a winner."
The Award has put the country into political divide with ruling part (CCM) on the proposing side while opposition and human rights activists on the opposing side.
Change Tanzania was started by Tanzanian communication expert and media personality Maria Sarungi Tsehai.
Reacting to the results today, Maria Sarungi said that "we in Tanzania claim that Burna Boy is our own (Tanzanian)!"
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