Diamond Platnumz Barred From Performing in His Own Country, Tanzania

TALK of prophets without honor in their own homes, Tanzanian authorities RASATA have barred top African pop star Diamond Platnumz from performing in the country after finding his song to be pregnant with sexual innuendos.

Interestingly, the song Mwanza contains the Swahili word for "horny", and dancers are seen in a video simulating sex.

The singer who featured Zimbabwe’s most sought after musician, Jah Prayzah, treated the ban with "disdain" by singing the lyrics at a concert, the Arts Regulator said.

The popular Tanzanian singer has been dogged by controversy in recent years.

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In April, he was questioned by police after posting on Instagram a video clip of himself playfully kissing a woman.

The authorities accused him of behaving indecently.

Tanzania's Arts Regulator said Diamond Platnumz would also be banned from performing abroad, but it is unclear how it would enforce this.

The ban also applied to Rayvanny, another local musician who features in Mwanza.

"We have reached the decision because the two musicians have treated our directive with disdain," Basata said in a statement.

On Sunday, Diamond Platnumz, who popularized "bongo flava", Tanzanian hip hop, performed Mwanza to big crowds during a festival in the port city of the same name.

The song has been popular on YouTube and has had more than five million views.

In a recent video shared online, Diamond Platnumz raised the possibility of settling abroad if Tanzanian officials continued banning his music.

"If they don't want me to perform my songs, I can live in another country and play there. If Tanzanian law says I can't perform here, I can go to Kenya where I am not banned," he said.

The musician, whose real name is Nasib Abdul, is billed to headline an End of the Year Concert in neighboring country, Kenya.

Rayvanny reacted to the ban. "I have read the reports for my song which was banned. But in this I have a few words to say ... Why Mwanza. We could call this song any other name, Mbeya, Kigoma or any different region ... It should be noted a few days ago a major disaster struck our fellow brothers in Mwanza. What should we do for them as part of their comfort?," he said.

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Header Image Credit: Trace TV