Tanzania: Diamond, Idris Take Tanzania in Cloud Nine

December 30, 2014

By Betram Lengama* THE year 2014 is winding up with Tanzanian flag flying high in music and other entertainment industries. This has been made possible, following a performance with distinction by the local artists in the continental arena. [caption id="attachment_15060" align="alignleft" width="290"] Photo: Idris Sultan/Facebook
Idris Sultan[/caption] Evergreen Bongfleva music artist Naseeb Abdul, popularly known by his stage name 'Diamond Platnumz' surely had the best year in his career. His star sparkled to the maximum as his name and music hit the airwaves in local and international music arena this year in positive way than in negative. Diamond is flying high with his various hit numbers such 'Number One', 'Mbagala', 'Binadamu', 'Ukimuona', 'Nenda kamwambie', 'Nitarejea', 'Lala salama', 'Nitampata wapi' and 'Number one Remix' featuring Nigerian music Star Davido to mention a few. In April this year, he managed to bag a total of seven awards with a win in all the categories he was nominated in the Kilimanjaro Music Awards to set a new record for the awards since it was established 14 years ago. The Bongo Fleva heartthrob 'Number One' hit song singer won the Best Male Writer, Best Male Artist, Best Song Writer, Song of the Year award, Best Afro Pop Song, Video of the Year and Best Male Entertainer of the Year. Diamond, who possesses a number of nicknames such as 'Dangote' and 'Rais wa Wasafi' was also nominated for various continental honours such as the MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMAS) and the Kora awards and the recent 2014 Channel O African Music Awards in South Africa. The lad from Kigoma set another record of the year in the Channel O African Music Awards after bagging three awards in the event, winning the categories of the Most Gifted Newcomer, Most Gifted Afro Pop and Most Gifted East, which he was nominated to compete with other stars artists from the continent. And in the category of the most gifted Afro Pop, Diamond, again with his hit song 'Number One' outshined Africa music stars such as Nigerian music star Davido with his song Aye, South African famous group Mafikizolo featuring May D with their hit 'Happiness', Flavour -Ada Ada and Iyanya -Jombolo, to win the category. Diamond is said to be one of the most famous and successful as well as the most paid artist in the country according to reports. Apart from staging many shows compared to other local artists, he also owns various valuable assets including expensive fleet of cars and posh houses. The Bongofleva artist performed in various countries worldwide including Germany, United States of America, South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Comoro, U.A.E and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). To signify that he is really making the country proud, Diamond was on Tuesday invited by President Jakaya Kikwete at the State House. Diamond took the opportunity of being invited to the State House to show the President, five different awards he won this year's in various international events which he competed with other African music stars and excelled. President Kikwete commended the effort done by Diamond in promoting the country abroad through his artistic work. Also the President praised the winner of this year's Big Brother Africa' (BBA) Hotshots, Idris Sultan, saying the two young men have promoted the country well. He urged them to utilise properly and wisely their status of being stars within the society and focus on development of their welfare, families and their colleagues in the music and entertainment industry. Diamond acknowledged the President's support to all artists in the country, saying the support has led to his success both locally and internationally and promised to work hard in his effort to continue with his work of promoting the country internationally.

Diamond's success was not the only in this year for Tanzania. The nation was in cloud nine after it's representative in the continent's biggest reality show 'Big Brother Africa' (BBA), Idris Sultan emerged the winner of the BBA ninth season dubbed as BBA 2014 Hotshots. The amazing win for the Arusha lad (Chalii ya Atown), Idris automatically puts him into the list of new young millionaires in the country after winning USD $300,000, which is approximately 517m/-. Idris, who was nicknamed 'Mr Lover Man' by his fans due to his behaviour in the house managed to outshine other 25 housemates from thirteen countries especially his close competitors of the award-- Nigerian model Akintayo John Faniran popularly known as Tayo and Zambian Mulaza Kaira alias Macky 2 to win the awesome prize. Idris becomes the second Tanzanian to win the Big Brother Africa top prize after Richard Bezuidenhout, who won in Big Brother Africa Season 2 in 2011 and bagged $100,000 from the reality show produced by Endemol for M-Net. Initially, this year's Big Brother Africa shows had to be put on hold as the Big Brother original house at Sasani Studio in Highlands North, Johannesburg got burnt down. The series was delayed but luckily the producers found and refurbished a house for the season nearby and launched a shorter season of only 63 days on October 5, 2014. However, it was not all smooth sailing for the country in the entertainment industry as shocking scandals hit the 2014 Miss Tanzania beauty pageant. It will take ages for Tanzanians to forget the age cheating saga, which resulted into the stripping off of the crowned beauty queen Sitti Abbas Mtemvu. Mtemvu announced to step down voluntarily hardly a month after winning the crown, following age cheating allegations and following the decision, the crown was awarded to first runner-up, Lilian Kamazima (18). Sitti becomes the first winner to surrender the crown in the history of the Miss Tanzania beauty pageant, which was re-introduced in 1994. The beauty pageant was established in 1960s and later in 1968; the government banned the event citing indecency and was not conforming to the country's culture. However, organizers of the event Lino International Agency Limited Director Hashim Lundenga, dispelled claims that Sitti had tampered with her age and that she was illegally awarded the crown. He said that the event's judging procedure happens without prejudice. Sitti's birth certificate which was issued in September this year in Temeke shows that she was born on May 31, 1991, which means she is 23 years old which is different from what has been reported by various media outlets and social media which claimed she is 25 years of age. Initially, it was claimed that Sitti is aged 18 years and has a Masters degree but the event organizers vehemently dispute such reports as unfounded and are spread by people who want to tarnish the image of Miss Tanzania beauty pageant According to Miss World regulations, which are sent to all organisers of the beauty pageant in their respective countries, all contestant are strictly required to be within the age limit of not less than 17 years of age nor more than 24 on December 31 in the relevant year. And, breaching of that part will lead to the termination of license of the country organiser. In 1957, Miss USA, Leona Gage was disqualified and was stripped of her crown when her mother-in-law revealed to the public that she was in her second marriage, and that she had two children and that she was only 18 and not 21 as what was noted in her application. *Source allafrica]]>