Diamond Platnumz sets bar high with new album

The album was released under Universal Music South Africa and launched on 14 March at the Kenya National Theatre in partnership with Safaricom’s new music platform, SONGA App.

Also at the launch was American singer Omarion with whom Diamond collaborated with on the song ‘African Beauty’.

Speaking about the album’s title, Diamond Platnumz said, “This 18-track album is a tribute to my humble beginnings in Tandale, which is a slum in Tanzania. It is where I was raised, with a lot of challenges, but also where I formed my closest bonds with family and friends who to this day remain my support system. It is the place where amidst all the poverty, I discovered my talent.”

Over the years, East African artists have been obscured by their counterparts from western and southern regions of Africa. But the emergence of platforms like Coke Studio Africa has made it easier for artists to enjoy the spotlight as well as to collaborate not just amongst themselves but also with international acts.

Speaking to Music In Africa, Diamond Platinumz said that A Boy From Tandale is a true example of what a collaboration agenda between African artists and international acts can achieve.

“East African artists should be ready for international collaborations,” he said. “Our fans consume a lot of music therefore we need to be confident and package our products well so that we can earn respect and get our music to the international market.

"When I went to the US to shoot my video for ‘Waka’ featuring ft. Rick Ross, he was so impressed that after our project he told me to let him know if I needed a connection with any other artist."

Singer Omarion said African artists should continue to bridge the gap between themselves and international musicians.

“Although a lot of American artists have worked with African musicians a lot of them have actually never travelled here to experience the culture, music and the people,” he told Music In Africa. “So I think right now it’s very interesting for artists like myself and Diamond Platinumz to bridge the gap between this two places and I am so glad that I got the opportunity to do that.”

Omarion will be back to Nairobi on 3 June to headline the Afro Pop festival which will take place at the Ngong Racecourse.

Apart from Rick Ross and Omarion other international acts featured in A Boy From Tandale are Jamaican group Morgan Heritage and US R&B act Ne-Yo in ‘Marry Me’, which hit 18 million views on YouTube nine months after its release in February 2017. Diamond became the first African artist to hit six-time platinum sales under Universal Music South Africa.

African acts featured on the new album include Nigeria’s Davido, Flavour and P-Square, Zimbabwean Jah Prayzah and Tanzania’s Rayvanny and Vanessa Mdee.

Buy A Boy From Tandale here.