Eric Omondi, the Kenyan comedian-turned-activist, has traveled to Tanzania to make amends with Bongo Flava superstar Diamond Platnumz after a public scuffle involving Kenyan artist Willy Paul. Omondi explained that his visit to Tanzania was initially to plan a Valentine’s Day show, but he also saw it as an opportunity to address tensions from the controversial Furaha City Festival.
During the event, tensions flared when Willy Paul was reportedly treated unfairly compared to other artists, such as Diamond Platnumz, Zuchu, and Rayvanny. Omondi’s social media post criticizing the situation led to a fallout with Diamond, who initially ignored Omondi’s attempts to reach out. Omondi, feeling responsible for the situation, decided to travel to Tanzania to resolve the issue and apologize to Diamond for any misunderstanding.
“The event organizers are to blame for the drama. Diamond received VIP treatment with his own tent and convoy, while Willy Paul was left out, which caused the altercation,” Omondi said. He also revealed that despite his initial frustrations, he decided against deleting his post and later reached out to Diamond, eventually apologizing for his involvement.
Omondi went on to praise Diamond Platnumz, acknowledging that the Tanzanian star was instrumental in his career, especially after introducing him to the Tanzanian music scene. He also defended the Kenyan music industry, noting that local artists often face mistreatment at events compared to international stars, highlighting the poor reception of Kenyan performers at major festivals.
Despite the tensions, Omondi emphasized that his actions were not a personal attack on Bongo music but a call for better treatment of Kenyan artists. His apology marks a significant step in mending his relationship with Diamond Platnumz and addressing the broader issue of respect for local talents in East Africa.
By Nairobi