Bongo star Diamond Platnumz has accused the government of abuse.
Diamond Platnumz: The award-winning singer claimed in an interview with Wasafi FM that the state was shaming him and his Wasafi signers. Diamond, who is on a media tour for his FOA (First of All) EP, said the Switch showed that he and the artists who signed his label were not free to leave the country. The star said he had to be approved by the state agency responsible for music and the arts. Basada.
DIAMOND PLATINUMZ AJIPIGA KIFUA!
Star wa mziki wa bongo fleva Diamond Platinumz amezua gumzo baada ya kusema kwamba yeye ni msanii wa tatu bora barani Afrika.
Je msanii wako bora barani Afrika ni nani? pic.twitter.com/IPjE4ysrVu— Msenangu FM (@MsenanguFM) March 15, 2022
“I think only artists who are contracted by Wasafi are not allowed to leave the country without government approval. Every time I arrive at the airport, I get arrested and banned from boarding. I don’t know why they keep doing this to me,” he said. Tell radio host Lily Omi. “When I ask why, I’m always told that I have to get permission from the government to leave the country.”
He went on to say that in order to get the permit, he had to hand over 50,000 baht (2,400 baht) every time he left the country.
Diamond Platnumz’s claims were refuted by BASATA’s interim chief executive, Matiko Muniko, who said there would never be a specific law for individual citizens. “For any artist who wants to go abroad to perform art-related performances, the law is very clear. You have to get a license from BASATA, where you have to pay 50,000 Tsh,” Muniko told Mwananchi.
Diamond’s comments came after Ommy asked why his name and the names of his signers were not among the artists who received royalties from the Copyright Society of Tanzania (COSATA) in January this year. In a brief response, COSATA replied that they were not registered with the organization.
“So if you tell me we haven’t registered and we’re paying for the government’s permission to leave the country, it doesn’t make any sense to me. I applaud President Samia Suluhu for this move, but I feel those responsible The man on the mission failed,” the Gidi anchor said.
“I am not interested on the newly launched awards. I mean if you couldn’t pay me royalties, how would you then nominate me for an award? It does not make sense. I believe it’s good for other Tanzanian artists, but it’s not a priority for me. My focus is to compete with artistes outside Tanzania,” he said.