Tanzania: Diamond Platnumz pledges money for school

The council took to social media to commend the musician’s charity work and at the same time challenged other Tanzanian musicians to use their fame and fortune to give back to society.

“Baraza la Sanaa la Taifa (BASATA) would like to congratulate musician Nasibu Abdul, popularly known as Diamond Platnumz, for offering to fund the completion of a primary school in Sumbawanga District,” the body wrote on Facebook.

“This act will definitely encourage the society to appreciate art in the country. In addition, the council wishes to use this opportunity to persuade other artists in the country to give back to the community.”

The singer made the announcement on 8 December during the laying of the foundation stone for a school where he donated 150 iron sheets and pledged to donate 68 million Tanzanian shillings ($30 000).

Speaking to Global TV, Diamond Platnumz said he valued the development of young people and that good education had an important role to play in Tanzania’s developmental efforts.

"I would like to promise that I would finish the rest of the construction and add more classes. I agree with the president [John Magufuli] when he recently said that when we educate the youth, we empower them for economic development,” he said.

“My team and I are also doing this just to show the government that music is a decent job like any other and if well supported, it can greatly improve various sectors of our country.”

This news comes barely a month after BASATA’s executive secretary Godfrey Mngereza announced a ban on ‘Mwanza’, a song that features Diamond Platnumz and Rayvanny.

Mngereza told local media that the ban was necessary in order to protect the country’s cultural norms. He said the lyrics of the song were too vulgar and contained many sexual nuances.

"We are so disappointed of the fact that a great artist like Diamond would compose a songs that has no moral values, yet he has so many people who look up to him as a role model,” he said.