Tanzanians' petition to have BET disqualify Diamond from this year’s Awards

Dorothy Michieka

June 6, 2021 4:11 PM

Petitioners claim Diamond remained silent when fellow Tanzanian artists were purportedly imprisoned and abducted

Tanzanians' petition to have BET disqualify Diamond from this year’s Awards

A section of Tanzanians on Twitter have launched an online petition to have Diamond Platnumz disqualified from the 2021 BET Awards.

Based on their petition, the allegations brought forth are that the WCB President ‘actively and publicly supported deceased Magufuli’s regime.’

The petitioners claim that Chibu Dang’ote remained silent when fellow Tanzanian artists were imprisoned and abducted in 2017-2018 over video clips deemed obscene by the authorities.

Diamond was also arrested after sharing a video clip on Instagram that showed him kissing a girl but the petitioners claim that he remained silent and did not condemn the acts.

Tanzanians' petition to have BET disqualify Diamond from this year’s Awards Tanzanians' petition to have BET disqualify Diamond from this year’s Awards Pulse Live Kenya

“In 2017, he deliberately released a single called “Acha Nikae Kimya” (Let me remain quiet) as a response to the increasing demand from the public to speak up and condemn the crackdowns. Diamond to-date has not condemned or spoken up on any of the atrocities committed,” read part of the petition.

Diamond has been nominated at the 2021 BET Awards as the only East African artist under the category, Best International Act.

Singer Harmonize had also taken a jibe at Diamond indirectly mocking him about his nomination.

Others who have been named in the Best International Act category include; Aya Nakamura (France), Burna Boy (Nigeria), Diamond Platnumz, (Tanzania) Emicida (Brazil), Headie One (UK), Wizkid (Nigeria), Young T & Bugsey (UK) and Youssoupha (France).

Diamond's fans are now speculating that the petition is just politically motivated and has nothing to do with his craft.