Diamond conned 25 million shillings in a deal with Saida Karoli’s manager

Martin Oduor

November 17, 2016 1:14 PM

Diamond parted with 25 million shillings to do a rendition of Saida Karoli’s “Salome”. It turns out Saida Karoli’s manager conned Diamond and shortchanged Saida Karoli.

Diamond’s rendition of Saida Karoli’s “Salome” is still the hottest song in the airwaves; the song has garnered 8.2 million views since it was uploaded on YouTube three months ago.

Apparently Diamond’s management, Wasafi Classic Records (WCR) paid Saida Karoli’s manager Tsh 25 million/Kes 1.1 million with a promise that 25 percent of total revenue that “Salome” generates would go to Saida Karoli.

Diamond’s manager, Sallam Sharaf, last September posted a photo of Mzee Felician Mutakyawa, a representative of Saida Karoli, witnessing the signing of the deal that gave Diamond the rights to do a rendition of “Salome”.

But in an interview with KUTV, Saida Karoli disclosed that she gave Diamond her song for free as a way of showing solidarity with Bongo artists.

Ms Karoli revealed she wasn’t involved in the deal that saw Diamond part with 25 million shillings and 25% revenue from “Salome”.

“Tatizo limekuja kwa meneja wangu aliyempatia Diamond kazi, mimi nimempatia bure Diamond hiyo kazi aitumie. Lakini kwenye kusikia masikioni kwangu na kwenye vyombo vya habari kwamba Diamond amempatia pesa milioni 25 meneja wangu wakawa wametengeneza mkataba kwamba huu wimbo utatumika hivi na hivi ila mimi kama mimi huo mkataba siujui na wala sikuuona na wala hawakunionyesha. Mimi ninachojua nimempatia kazi Diamond bure ili aitumie tuinuane wasanii wa Tanzania,” Saida Karoli told KUTV.

Translation:

“The issue was with my manager who struck a deal with Diamond to use my song. I only heard on the media that Diamond paid my manager Tsh 25 million to use my song but I was not involved in that deal neither did I even see the contract. What I know is that I gave Diamond my song for free as a way of showing solidarity with Bongo artists.”

Clearly Saida Karoli’s manager conned Diamond 25 million and didn’t even give his boss a penny from the deal he struck.

Martin Oduor