When he was just 17, Diamond Platnumz had big dreams. He sold secondhand clothing and pumped gas to achieve his goal, but it was never enough. Eventually, he sold his mother’s gold ring!
“I told her I lost it in the bathroom – that it fell down the toilet,” the singer recalled.
But why? – to save up money for a studio recording session.
A decade and a half later, the Bongo Flava icon has gone from strength to strength with massive success in music and media!
Below is a breakdown of how it started and why Diamond Platnumz is not backing down any time soon.
Early Life
Diamond Platnumz, born Naseeb Abdul Juma Issack on 2 October 1989, attended Chakula Bora Nursery School in 1995. He later joined Tandale Magharibi Primary School in 1996, completing his primary school education. Later in 2002, young Naseeb joined the secondary school graduating in 2006.
Career Beginnings
After graduating secondary school, Diamond spent most of his seminal years as a cover artist for several local and international outfits.
His mother, Sanura Kasimu, popularly known as Mama Dangote, did all she could to support her son’s talent. She bought him albums from established artists and even helped him coin lyrics. Sanura also registered her son in different talent competitions to expose his talent at a young age. Still, it wasn’t an easy journey for Diamond starting out. He wasn’t supported by other family members who felt Sanura should primate the lad’s education.
Success as an artist in Tanzania is an arduous task. Every homestead is believed to be home to great musical talent. Diamond struggled against all odds and had to do casual work to raise studio funds. He served as a filling attendant, a freelance photographer, and a secondhand clothes vendor to keep body and soul together.
Saving for studio time wasn’t a walk in the park. Scrimping and fending for his family in a single-parent home with the little he made was a dilemma, frustrated the star secretly sold his mother’s gold ring.
First Recording Experience
Platnumz’s first recording session proved a considerable success. While the song did not dominate the airwaves, the debut single paved his journey as the king of Bongo Flava. It gave him an audience with industry heavyweights like Chizo Mapeno, who volunteered to manage the star’s music through his debut single. The two agreed to do an album, but this didn’t go as planned due to financial constraints.
For Diamond, he had tasted fame and loved the possibilities of what he could become. Without money, not everyone was in his camp. Dreams shattered, loyalties challenged as friends became enemies, and relationships strained. No studio was willing to sign him, and his then-girlfriend left him since he couldn’t take care of her. She preferred established men, not dreamers.
If only she knew!
Diamond’s breakthrough came in 2009 when he met Papa Misifa, who offered financial support to produce “Nenda Kamwambie.” Diamond’s ‘star shone’ all over East Africa.
Diamond Platnumz’ Awards and Acknowledgments
Since then, Diamond has earned recognition as a mainstream artist in Tanzania, East Africa, and Africa at large. He has won several awards and acknowledgements. In May 2014, Platnumz broke the record for most awards in a calendar year after clinching seven awards.
Some of this Bongo sensation’s awards include:
- Best Male Artist at the Nzumari Awards Tanzania in 2012
- The Future Africa Awards 2014
- African Artiste of the Year at The Headies 2014
- Best Artist East Africa at the Top Ten Tube Music Awards in 2014
- Best African Act, MTV Europe Music Awards/WORLDWIDE ACT AFRICA/INDIA
- African Video of the Year, Best African Male Video, Best African Combo Video at the Africa Music Video Awards of 2016
In total, his illustrious career has earned him over 50 awards and acknowledgements.
Diamond Platnumz Net Worth
With this magnitude of success, many people have wondered about the extent of his fortunes. Whether or not he is the richest in East Africa has also been a topic for discussion.
After several speculative reports, it appears that the “My Number One” hitmaker stands among the most influential and highest-earning singers in East Africa. Diamond is the most paid, most decorated, and sought-after Bongo Flava singer if statistics are anything to go by. His name is engraved in the highest echelons of affluence in the continent, with over $4.5 million in net worth.
The star has earned his wealth through concerts, royalties, tours, top-selling ringtones, and brand endorsements like Red Gold, Vodacom, Coca-Cola, and DSTV. He owns Wasafi Records, a record label that is a key income earner.
Personal Life
Aside from his wealthy and illustrious lifestyle, Diamond Platinumz has had a controversial personal life. After breaking up with Wema Sepetu in 2014, images of the King of Wasafi canoodling with Zari Hassan surfaced.
Both stars denied rumours of a relationship, saying they were working on a project. After several weeks, the two graced the South African Music Awards holding hands, and everyone saw the ‘project’ they’d been working on.
Later, the self-proclaimed ‘Simba’ and Zari had two children. According to Zari, who is nine years older than the Wasafi CEO, their relationship was marred with careless and reckless infidelity. It was rumoured that Diamond had an affair with Hamisa Mobetto. The star affirmed these rumours and even admitted to fathering a child with Hamisa, a video vixen.
He later got involved with Kenyan Tanasha Dona, who has his child. He is said to currently be in a relationship with his protege Zuchu.
Despite Diamond’s controversial personal life, he is a revered talent set on attaining greater heights in music. He has shown great promise with international artists Ne-Yo, Rick Ross, Omarion, Tanasha Donna, Fally Ipupa, Olomide and Morgan Heritage. Like him or hate him the Boy from Tandale is unstoppable with new hits every few months.
What do you think about Diamond Platnumz’s career? Leave a comment below.
