Diamond Platnumz, the renowned Bongo artist, recently shed light on why he occasionally takes his time before gracing the Kenyan stage.
Speaking during an interview with Nairobi News at Serena Hotel, in Nairobi, ahead of his performance at the Octobafest at Ngong Racecourse, the Yatapita hitmaker said the delay is often attributed to the time required to finalize agreements on his performance fees with event organizers, as many are always hesitant to meet his demands.
“It’s no secret that my performances take time to materialize in Kenya. It’s because reaching a mutual agreement on my performance fee can be a meticulous process,” he explained.
“The reason I am here today is that the Octobafest organizers met my demands.”
The popular musician also highlighted that musicians based in East Africa should borrow a leaf from their cousins in the Western part of the continent and know their value.
“You know people from the West (Africa) are receiving good payment yet the ones from the East are getting peanuts to perform. So I think it is just to give me what I deserve because I am a big brand.”
Musicians from East Africa, Kenya included, have lagged behind their peers from West Africa and especially Nigeria both on the popularity ratings and earnings.
Diamond assured his Kenyan fans that despite the negotiation complexities, they can anticipate nothing short of a sensational performance. He promised to deliver an electrifying show that would leave the audience thrilled and entertained.
Moreover, when the topic of a potential collaboration with a Kenyan artist arose, the “Waah” hitmaker disclosed that he was actively working on one. However, he tantalizingly withheld the identity of the artist involved, creating an air of anticipation and excitement among fans.
A hundred artists, most of them local based, graced this edition of the Oktobafest, including musicians and Disc Jockeys.
