Diamond Platnumz, regarded arguably a top East African musician of all time, has now boasted he is the best in Africa. In his own words he has averred that.he is simply the best in Africa or something to that tune. But is he?
NIgerians who participated in the debate trolled him as a copy artist, plagiarising Nigerian, Congolese and South africa. THE Naija men and women have drawn one conclusion: Diamond Platnumz will never rival top Nigerian, South African and Congolese top musicians.
The Naija fans dismissed Diamond Platnumz’s UK concerts that were snubbed by fans until Nigerians and Jux- Priscilla came to his rescue. They say his tickets were not selling until a benign intervention of the other crowd pullers.
They rest their case by asking how many Grammys has he won? None, they jubilantly conclude. Lack of international recognition by peers stands in the way of Diamond Platnumz’s hyperbolic claim: he is the best African Musician of all time.
But what is the real story? Is Diamond Platnumz a copy artist lacking originality and identity or Nigerian music fans are victims of xenophobia? Here we peek at the facts.
Here are exact Diamond Platnumz words decide on yourself what you think of them:
” when we talk about African music, put some respect on my name. I’m not your regular artist out here doing the bare minimum. I’m the only African artiste who can confidently say I do it all every sound, every style, every flavor from this continent, I dominate it.
Let’s start with Amapiano I don’t just jump on the trend, I own it. I’ve got crazy hit records that shook the clubs from Jo’burg to Lagos. Go check the charts, I don’t miss.
When it comes to Congolese vibes and that rich Francophone rhythm I’ve done it. I’ve tapped into those deep, soulful melodies and turned them into fire hits that play heavy in Kinshasa, Abidjan, and Dakar.
When it comes to afrobeats I’ve got classics that sit comfortably among the best. When you talk Afrobeats kings, my name must be in that conversation. No debate.
And then there’s Swahili music my roots, my home. East Africa, stand up I put us on the global map. From Bongo Flava to those smooth Swahili ballads, nobody represents like I do. I carry East Africa on my back and in my voice.
I’m not boxed in. I’m the full package. I’m a movement. From North to South, East to West when you hear Diamond Platnumz, you’re hearing Africa in every beat, every lyric, every vibe.
I don’t just make music. I define what African music sounds like.
___ Diamond platnumz” End of quotation. 🗣
Facts diagnosed:
Who are the top ten Grammy winners from Africa?
Based on verified Grammy Award achievements and cultural impact, here are Africa’s top 10 most decorated artists, ranked by total wins and historical significance:
🏆 Top 10 African Grammy Winners.
1. Angélique Kidjo (Benin):
5 wins (14 nominations).
– Categories:
Best Contemporary World Music Album (“Djin Djin”, 2008), Best World Music Album (“Eve”, 2015; “Sings”, 2016; “Celia”, 2020), Best Global Music Album (*Mother Nature*, 2023).
– Legacy:
Africa’s most awarded artist; fusion pioneer and mentor to new generations.
2. Ladysmith Black Mambazo (South Africa):
5 wins (17 nominations).
– Categories:
Best Traditional Folk Recording (*Shaka Zulu*, 1988), Best Traditional World Music Album (*Raise Your Spirit Higher*, 2005; “Ilembe”, 2009), Best World Music Album (“Live: Singing for Peace”, 2014; *Shaka Zulu Revisited*, 2018).
– Legacy:
Iconic isicathamiya choir; collaborated with Paul Simon on “Graceland”.
3. Ali Farka Touré (Mali):
3 wins (5 nominations)
– Categories:
Best World Music Album (“Talking Timbuktu”, 1994), Best Traditional World Music Album (“In the Heart of the Moon”, 2005; “Ali and Toumani”, 2010).
– Legacy:
“Desert blues” innovator; linked African roots to American blues.
4. Soweto Gospel Choir (South Africa):
3 wins (5 nominations).
– Categories:
Best Traditional World Music Album (*Blessed*, 2007; *African Spirit*, 2008), Best World Music Album (*Freedom*, 2019) .
– Legacy:
Blend of African gospel, spirituals, and pop; performed at Mandela’s 46664 concert.
5. Sikiru Adepoju (Nigeria):
2 wins.
– Categories:
Best World Music Album (*Planet Drum*, 1991), Best Contemporary World Music Album (“Global Drum Project”, 2008) .
– Legacy:
First Nigerian Grammy winner; master percussionist.
6. Tems (Nigeria):
2 wins (5 nominations).
– Categories:
Best Melodic Rap Performance (“Wait for U,” 2023), Best African Music Performance (“Love Me JeJe,” 2025).
– Legacy:
First Nigerian woman to win; first African #1 on Billboard Hot 100.
7. Miriam Makeba (South Africa):
1 win (9 nominations).
– Category:
Best Folk Recording (*An Evening with Belafonte/Makeba*, 1966).
– Legacy:
First African Grammy winner; “Mama Africa” and anti-apartheid icon.
8. Burna Boy (Nigeria):
1 win (10 nominations)
– Category:
Best Global Music Album (“Twice as Tall”, 2021).
– Legacy:
Afrobeats pioneer; first African artist to perform at the Grammys (2024).
9. Wizkid (Nigeria):
1 win (4 nominations).
– Category:
Best Music Video (“Brown Skin Girl,” 2021).
– Legacy:
Globalized Afrobeats; “Essence” first Nigerian song on Billboard.
10. Black Coffee (South Africa):
1 win.
– Category:
Best Dance/Electronic Album (“Subconsciously”, 2022).
– Legacy:
First African winner in this category; blends African rhythms with electronic music.
💎 Notable One-Time Winners.
– Tinariwen (Mali):
Best World Music Album (Tassili, 2012) .
– Youssou N’Dour (Senegal):
Best Contemporary World Music Album (“Egypt”, 2005).
– Tyla (South Africa):
Best African Music Performance (“Water,” 2024); youngest solo winner at 22.
📊 Key Insights.
– Regional Dominance:
South Africa leads in total wins (e.g., Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Soweto Gospel Choir), while Nigeria dominates modern categories (Burna Boy, Tems, Wizkid).
– Impact of New Categories:
Introduction of “Best African Music Performance” (2024) boosted representation, with 15 African nominations in 2024 alone.
– Diamond Platnumz Context:
Despite his claims, the Tanzanian artist has “zero Grammy nominations”, contrasting sharply with the above winners’ peer-recognized achievements.
Diamond Platnumz’s lack of Grammy wins dent his ambition to reign Africa.
The debate surrounding Diamond Platnumz’s claim to be “the best in Africa” reveals a complex clash of regional pride, artistic metrics, and cultural bias. Below is a balanced analysis based on verifiable achievements and controversies:
🏆 Diamond Platnumz’s Case for Dominance.
1. Record-Breaking Digital Influence.
– First East African artist to hit “10 million YouTube subscribers” (June 2025), joining an elite global club and surpassing 2.3 billion lifetime views.
– His channel (active since 2011) outpaces Burna Boy (3.92M subs), Wizkid (2.8M), and Davido (3.4M) in subscribers, though some Nigerians lead in total views .
2. Award Accolades.
– “Three MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs)”, including 2023’s *Best African Act* where he beat Burna Boy, Asake, and South Africa’s Tyler ICU.
– First African artist to win two MTV EMAs in one night (2015).
3. Pan-African Sound & Collaborations.
– Successfully fused “Bongo Flava” (Tanzania), “Afrobeats” (Nigeria), “Amapiano” (South Africa), and **Congolese rhythms**—evidenced in hits like “Waah!” (feat. Koffi Olomide) and “Number One” (feat. Davido).
– Landed high-profile collabs with “Ne-Yo” (“Marry You”), “Rick Ross”, and “Alicia Keys” through relentless networking.
4. Cultural Legacy & Mentorship.
– Founded “Wasafi Classic Baby (WCB)”, elevating East African talent like Rayvanny, Zuchu, and Harmonize—all ranked among Africa’s top-streamed artists.
– Starred in Netflix’s *Young, Famous & African*, amplifying Swahili culture globally.
⚠️ Nigerian Counter Arguments and Criticisms.
1. Grammy Absence vs. Nigerian Dominance.
– Diamond has “zero Grammy nominations”, while Nigerians like “Burna Boy” (1 win, 10 noms), “Wizkid” (1 win), and “Tems” (2 wins) hold international peer recognition. Critics cite this as proof he lacks “global best” credibility.
2. Controversial Performances.
– Nigerian fans dismiss his UK concerts as “saved” by Naija stars (e.g., Davido) and Congolese artists, claiming tickets undersold without their intervention.
– His 2017 Zambian festival slot was a “last-minute replacement” for Tekno, raising questions about his draw as a headliner.
3. Originality Debates.
– Accused of copying Nigerian Afrobeats, Congolese soukous, and South African house—a critique fueled by his genre-hopping style.
– Retorts that his fusion is “celebrating African unity” rather than plagiarism.
4. Local Award Skepticism.
– Diamond boycotts Tanzanian awards, calling them “unfair” and “controlled“—yet critics note this avoids direct competition with rivals like Ali Kiba.
🌍 The Xenophobia Question.
– Nigerian fans’ dismissal “could reflect bias” toward West Africa’s Grammy-centric success. Diamond’s Swahili-focused work receives less airplay in Nigeria, despite his 2023 MTV EMA win over Burna Boy.
– Conversely, Diamond has criticized Nigerian promoters for “underestimating” his value, demanding equal pay to top Naija acts .
💎 Conclusion: A Regional Titan, Not Continent-Wide.”Best“**
Diamond Platnumz is “East Africa’s undisputed king”—a digital pioneer, hitmaker, and cultural exporter. His pan-African sound and mentorship justify claims of regional supremacy. However, “Grammy recognition, streaming parity, and headlining power remain dominated by Nigerians”, making his “best in Africa” claim hyperbolic.
True greatness isn’t binary: Diamond’s legacy lies in shattering East Africa’s global barriers, while Nigeria’s stars lead in industry-sanctioned accolades. As African music diversifies, both can coexist without erasure.
> *”When you hear Diamond Platnumz, you’re hearing Africa in every beat“*—but Africa’s soundtrack has many conductors .
Read more analysis by Rutashubanyuma Nestory
