Tanzania bans Diamond Platnumz from performing

Tanzanian musician Naseeb Abdul Juma, popularly known by his stage name Diamond Platnumz, performs at Thika Stadium on December 2, 2018. PHOTO | DENNIS ONSONGO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

One of Africa's top musicians - Diamond Platnumz - has been banned from performing in Tanzania.

Basata, the regulatory arts board in the East African nation, said it had taken the decision because he had performed one of his songs that had been banned a few weeks ago.

On Sunday the singer, who popularised "bongo flava", Tanzanian hip hop, performed the song Mwanza to big crowds during a festival in the port city of the same name.

Mwanza was banned as the lyrics contained the Swahili word for “horny” and because the authorities considered some of the dance moves in the video to be lascivious.

The statement from Basata said Diamond Platnumz and another musician, Rayvanny, who also features in the song, had also been banned from doing shows outside the country – although it was not clear how this would be enforced.