Diamond: I was summoned by govt after Harmonize reported me to late President Magufuli

By , K24 Digital
On Thu, 28 Jul, 2022 12:46 | 2 mins read
Diamond and Harmonize
Diamond and Harmonize during good times. PHOTO/Courtesy.

Diamond Platnumz and Wasafi's management came under scathing attack after it emerged that Rayvanny was forced to raise the Ksh50 million to buy out the remainder of the contract before he could be allowed to leave the record label.

Bongo Records producer and Kajala's ex-husband P Funk Majani was the first celebrity who called out Wasafi for giving musicians raw deals.

Majani's criticism of Wasafi attacked a savage response from Diamond's two managers Sallam SK Mendez and Mkubwa Fella.

Mendez questioned the veteran producer if he was defending former Wasafi artiste Harmonize because he is now taking care of his baby mama Kajala and daughter Paula.

Diamond responds

The Wasafi top boss came out to rubbish claims that his record label has unfriendly contracts meant to milk musicians signed under him.

Diamond angrily hit out at his critics while speaking to Tanzanian media, asking his detractors to keep off his music business.

The 'Naanzaje' hitmaker stressed that Wasafi is just like any other company and must operate on profit to remain afloat.

Nataka nipuzilie mbali hizi dhana kuwa ati wasani wanaonewa it’s business, ni biashara unainvest hata more than milioni mia tano kwa msaani. Nawekeze kwenye sanaa na lazima return yangu hairudi,ndio maana wasaani wa WCB ni wakubwa wanajiita hadi matajiri Kwa sababu waliwekezewa fedha,”

(I want to dismiss the assumption that artistes are being exploited, it's business. I invest even Tsh500 million in a musician. I invest in music industry and I must get my profit. Wasafi artistes are successful and rich because I invested in them)," Diamond said.

Diamond further revealed that Harmonize reported him to the late President John Pombe Magufuli when he wanted to leave Wasafi and the label demanded that he buys out the remainder of the contract.

Mwanzo watu kama Harmonize walifika na kutushtaki mpaka kwa rais sisi tukaeleza mpaka waziri kwamba hili ni biashara. Lakini kwa sasa watu wameanza kuelewa kuwa hii ni biashara kama biashara zingine tuwache lawama.

"Harmonize reported me to the President and I was summoned by the minister and I explained that this is business. For now, people are beginning to understand that music management is just like any other business. Let us stop the blame game," Diamond stated.

In 2019, Wasafi was locked in another fierce tussle with Harmonize when he demanded to leave the label before the expiry of his contract.

Harmonize officially quit Wasafi in August 2019 after complaining about his contract. He had signed a 15-year contract with Diamond’s label which granted WCB 60 per cent of revenue generated from his music.

The ‘Attitude’ hitmaker opted to terminate the contract just four years after he felt he was not getting value for his output.  He was forced to pay Wasafi Ksh24 million to ditch the label prematurely.

Harmonize was reportedly forced to sell his three houses and a piece of land to raise the Ksh24 million that Wasafi demanded for leaving the label before his contract expired.

He had no option but to part with the amount demanded so that Diamond’s record label could afford him full rights ownership to the songs (all of his songs at the time were recorded and produced by Wasafi).

Diamond and Harmonize’s friendship was affected by his exit from Wasafi. The latter even started beefing with his former boss after his exit.

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