By Ben Musanje
13th July 2023
Tanzanian singing star, Naseeb Abdul Juma Issack, popularly known by his stage name Diamond Platnumz has singled out the language as the major factor that fails musicians from East Africa to break through the international scene.
This comes after recently the Uganda Cabinet approved the adoption of Kiswahili as an official language and directed that it be made a compulsory subject in primary and secondary schools.
Kiswahili is the region’s lingua franca or language spoken extensively in Tanzania and Kenya as both national and official language and in 2017 it was adopted as the official language of the East African Community (EAC) that is comprised of Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan and most recently the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Speaking to the media at Mestil Hotel in Nsambya, a Kampala suburb ahead the Charity Concert for homeless children tomorrow organized by the Comedy Store Foundation at Kololo Independence Ground, Diamond Platnumz says that if artists from the region were performing in one language, they would be competing at the international scene by now.
Alex Muhangi, the founder of Comedy Store says that proceeds from the concert are to enhance the activities of the foundation set up to uplift the youth through mindset change and skills training as well as supporting the orphanage homes like Katalemwa Cheshire Home, Bakateyamba Home at Nalukolongo among others.
Diamond Platnumz will headline a show which will also feature artists like Nameless from Kenya, Spice Diana, King Saha, Winnie Nwagi, Ray G, Alien Skin, Karole Kasita, Naava Grey, Zex Bilangilangi, MC Mariachi, Madrat Chiko, Abeeka Band, Maulana & Reign, Teacher Mpamire Daddy Andre, Eezzy, Fico West, Titus Vybz, Merry Heart, Sammy Shawa among others.
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