The story of Diamond Platinumz is unusual rags to riches punctuated with a harem of beautiful socialites, an overprotective single mother, missing-in-action dad and a much older Ugandan wife (cougar) Zari Hassan. The soft-spoken Naseeb Abdul Juma’s (his real name) rise to the top has not been an easy task.
From humble beginnings in Tandale area, Kindondoni in Dar-es-Salaam, Diamond sold mtumba and did casual work in 2007 to raise money to record his first single. However, he ended up gambling the cash. The mama’s boy was in distress as his career appeared to stall.
Diamond is said to have pinched and sold his mother’s gold ring, and voila! the musical Simba was unveiled. On his quest to rule the musical jungle, he teamed up with his family, mum Sanura Kasimu, brother Romeo Abdul and sister Esma Platinumz.
After a brief work agreement with Chizo Mapene that did not yield much, Simba met Msafiri Peter aka Papaa Misifa in 2009 and hit it off.
They worked on debut single, Nenda Kamwambie, an ode to his ex-girlfriend who left him because of poverty. The song was well-received, and Simba went back to the studios to release a host of follow-up tracks including the massively popular Nitarejea, Mbagala and Mawazo to cement his position as one of the biggest Tanzanian acts only comparable to Rock 4000’s Ali Kiba.
As the African saying goes, ‘you cannot keep two bulls in one pen’. The brief dalliance with Kiba under Kigoma All-Stars (both musicians hail from Kigoma area in TZ) was short-lived. The beef season ensued and Team Kiba and Team Diamond reached worrying heights.
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To prove he is the king of the musical jungle, Diamond founded Wasafi Records and signed talented musicians Rayvanny, Queen Darleen, Harmonize and Rich Mavoko. He also moved to conquer the African scene with huge collaborations featuring Nigerian superstars Davido, Flavour, P Square and Waje among others in 2014.
Diamond Platinumz. [Courtesy]
As he took hold of the African jungle, international recognition came flooding. Diamond scooped top awards including MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMAS), MTV Europe Music Awards/Worldwide Act Africa/India, Channel O Music Video Awards and was nominated for BET Award.
With newfound stardom, Diamond upped the ante. He is now the most expensive musician in the region, eclipsing even established Congolese, South African, and some West African stars. He charges Sh5 million for a single performance. With cash flooding his laps more women started drooling over Simba.
He is arguably the highest-earning East African artiste with deals that include ringtones on various mobile phone companies, concerts, tours, and endorsements brand ambassadorial deals, royalties, endorsements from various companies including Coca-cola, Vodacom, DStv and Red Gold.
In 2016 in an interview with E! TV he revealed that his net worth is a whopping $4 million (Sh412 million.) Diamond’s manager Sallam confirmed that money keeps rolling. “It depends with the show we are engaged in. There are different rates from club appearance, outdoor concerts and indoor concerts. For any collaboration we evaluate the impact and how is it going to benefit Diamond.”
Simba’s flowing cash and sauti inayoweza kumtoa nyoka pangoni, brought more beauties than he could chew. Video vixens, slay queens, cougars, models, actresses, and tube beauties formed a beeline for his attention.
Puppy Love: Enter Wema Sepetu
Former Miss Tanzania Wema Sepetu was Diamond’s puppy love. The actress-cum-socialite was once heralded as Diamond’s future wife before cheating rumors hit the internet. In a past interview with True Love Magazine, Wema opened up on her relationship with Diamond and said they met on Facebook. Back then, Wema lived with her sister in the USA.
She later traveled to Tanzania to meet him but all was not rosy. Wema claims that her mother disliked Diamond as she thought he was bad influence. She however could not keep the secret relationship for long. Wema once lied to her mum that she was travelling to Zimbabwe for a charity event.
But the couple were snapped hanging out in a bus. Unable to keep it a secret, the couple made the affair public.
Wema Sepetu. [Courtesy]
But before the wedding bells could toll, beautiful Ugandan socialite Zari Hassan trained her eyes on Diamond. The older, mother of three (one teenage son) had just walked out of marriage from South Africa-based Ugandan tycoon, the late Ivan Lukwago. Zari swept Diamond off his feet.
She complicated the four-year relationship between Diamond and Wema and their split was inevitable in 2014.
Wema was left licking her wounds and found solace in Big Brother Africa Hotshots winner, Idris Sultan. The affair came to a sad end when Wema suffered a miscarriage. Idris told Dizzim Online that he slept and dated more than 30 women to get over Wema.
Cougar Love: Zari Hassan brings Ugandan bed magic and expertise
Zari walked out of a 12-year-old marriage to the late Ivan Lukwago claiming the marriage was ‘ toxic and abusive.’
In an interview with Faridah Nakazibwe on NTV Uganda in December 2015, Zari said, “I tried so much to mend the relationship but it failed. I was abused in front of my kids and in public places.”
However, the late Ivan denied the claims, saying Zari’s injuries were a result of a car crash. The couple’s three kids Pinto, Raphael, and Quincy were in distress. Zari dumped Ivan and hooked up with Ugandan basketball star Isaac Lugudde aka LK4 and later dated muscle man Farouk Sempala. Zari ended both affairs.
Zari Hassan. [Courtesy]
Smarting from heartbreak, Zari laid trap for Diamond. That was in December 2014. Being an older woman, she wowed Diamond with classy lifestyle and bedroom skills. The affair was no longer a secret.
The couple appeared together during the Channel O Video Music Awards in South Africa where they revealed they were an item. Diamond told Tanzania’s Clouds FM that he was not worried about Zari checkered romantic past. Zari, during the same interview, also said that she was not attracted to Diamond at first.
In August 2015, the couple welcomed their daughter Tiffah and in December last year, their baby boy Nillan. Soon rumors started flying that Diamond had started messing around with beautiful video vixens.
It is said that when Diamond decided to re-work the hugely popular song, Salome by featuring his fast-rising sidekick Rayvanny, the horse had already bolted. Diamond became too cozy with vixen Hamisa Mobetto on Salome set that a steamy affair soon followed. Although he denied romping with the socialite, hell broke loose when she got pregnant and announced to all and sundry – when she delivered – that the boy was Diamond’s.
Enter side chick: Hamisa Mobetto and baby prince Naseeb Dangote
The moment Hamisa dropped the bombshell last week that Diamond was dating her behind Zari’s back trouble was already rocking Simba’s romantic kingdom. Speculations had been rife on who could be Hamisa’s baby daddy although she kept her lips tight. However, photos of Hamisa in Diamond and Zari’s house were leaked by Celeb Chronicles.
Hamisa Mobetto. [Courtesy]
Things, however, got out of hand when Zari’s conversation with Hamisa dating back to November 2016 was also leaked. Simba was cornered. He had to do something. Diamond went on Clouds FM to clarify the matter. He welcomed Hamisa’s child as his son and apologized to Zari. Immediately, Hamisa opened an Instagram account for her son and named him after his father.
Enter… Delicious Dillish Mathews, tasteful presented for Simba in love-island
According to Celeb Chronicles, Diamond was romantically linked to Namibian Big Brother Africa 2013 winner, Dillish Mathews. Diamond was rumored to have spent quality time with her during a vacation in Zanzibar. Diamond denied the affair on a radio interview with Clouds FM. Dillish, however, did not come out to address the allegations.
Jokate Mwangelo was not joking with Diamond and Ali Kiba
The steamy affair between Diamond and TV sex siren Jokate is well documented. It is also the genesis of the fall-out between Ali Kiba and Diamond. The beautiful TV personality romped Diamond behind Wema’s back when she was still linked to Ali Kiba. Wema revealed during her interview with True Love Magazine that the affair caused a bad rift between Kigoma mates Diamond, and Ali Kiba. Diamond, however, in an interview with Clouds TV Diamond denied the affair and said he had no beef with Ali Kiba.
Jokate Mwangelo. Courtesy]
Enter queen of socialites: Vera Sidika showing more to Diamond
The chartbuster, Show Me, is a testament on how special bootylicious Vera Sidika is to Wasafi Records. The song released early 2017 has a chorus that serenades Vera as Diamond’s side-kick.
Vera Sidika. [Courtesy]
Harmonize and Rich Mavoko wax lyrical about her fundamentals. Beyond the song, the rumours linking Diamond to Vera started doing rounds in December last year when the Kenyan socialite made an appearance during Wasafi beach party. Both parties have never addressed the issue.
Enter video vixen Hawa and baby claims
One of the most hushed affairs is that between beautiful vixen Hawa and Diamond. The beauty appeared on Diamond’s sophomore song, Nitarejea in 2013 and word started doing rounds about the affair.
A video clip was posted on Bongo Stars where Hawa made allegations that Diamond fathered her first daughter but refused to take care of her. “I have tried to reach him but all has been in vain, he knows that I have his baby but he has never been here to see him,” said Hawa.
Enter boss lady socialite Huddah Monroe
In August last year, Zari was beefing with Huddah. This came to the fore after Huddah posted on Instagram something about Diamond. It read: “When you think your man is yours kumbe (yet) he is ours. And I ate and dined with both of you. Having kids with someone to tie him down doesn’t mean he won’t leave. The little boy is public property, you order him like pizza. Don’t hate the player or the game, hate yourself, Madam!” Huddah posted.
Zari did not take this lightly and responded on her Instagram page captioning a photo of herself with Diamond. “Watu na bae zetu… nyaku nyakus can’t even post their own. Told you, if he can’t claim you in public, don’t give him the goods in private. You know what that means right and I bet you know where that leaves you. Tag your bae and wish him or her a good night. #ToWhomItMayConcern.”
Huddah Monroe. [Courtesy]
In June 2017, Huddah addressed the issue through Snapchat she said, “Reasons, why I don’t f*** with married men, is coz I’m a feminist, I care about the next woman. Even allegations that I slept with Zari’s man when I was with him were all lies.”
Enter actress Jacqueline Wolper
Actress Jacqueline Wolper confessed that she has dated both Ali Kiba and Diamond before he started dating Zari. In a segment on EATV when asked have you been in a relationship with Kiba? She said, “Ali Kiba ndiyo.” When asked whether she has been in a romantic relationship with Baba Tiffah, Wolper said; “Diamond tuna mahusiano mengi sana zaidi hata ya kimapenzi…ni bosi wangu, rafiki yangu, mshauri wangu, yaani na mahusiano nae mengi, umenielewa? Kikazi na vitu vingi.” It is said that the actress broke up with Diamond.
Jacqueline Wolper. [Courtesy]
Enter Jesca Honey pot from Burundi
24-year-old Burundian, Jesca Honey took to Instagram and claimed Diamond is the father to her twin daughters. Jesca said she met Diamond in 2013 when he travelled to the country for a concert. Diamond sent one of his boys to approach her and directed her to a hotel room where they got intimate.
“Since then, he has never given me financial assistance,” stated Jesca. She shared photos of her twin daughters on Instagram and even stated that she is ready for DNA tests to eliminate any doubts. “Please Diamond Platnumz, I have solely taken care of these children since they were born. It’s time for you to take them and care for them. I give up,” added Jesca. She further stated Diamond’s mum is aware that Diamond sired twins with her. Diamond is yet to respond.
Tanasha Donna
Then there was Tanasha Donna, a radio presenter and model turned musician. The beat stopped for Diamond and Tanasha in late 2019 after their one-and-a-half-year romantic affair hit the rocks. Speaking to True Love magazine, Donna revealed that she left Diamond after six months of trying to make things work.
Tanasha Donna. [Courtesy]
Speaking on Wasafi’s Good Morning Program, Platnumz said he did away with all his philandering ways when he was with Donna. “She never caught me red-handed…Seriously, it was during the time that I was with Tanasha that I decided to do away with all my past childish behavior and dedicated my time to her,” said Platnumz. It was, however, not meant to be.
