The battle for control: Inside Diamond Platnumz's feud with Ziiki media

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania's music industry is facing a significant clash between Bongo Flava  superstar Diamond Platnumz, his label WCB Wasafi, and music distributor Ziiki.

Shuu singer alleges that Ziiki is intentionally delaying the release of Wasafi artistes' music, citing the recent postponement of Lava Lava's track "Kibango."

According to Diamond Platnumz, the conflict stemmed from Wasafi rejecting Ziiki’s proposal for ownership shares in the label. In response, Ziiki launched its own label while continuing to distribute music from various artists.

"We offered them a fair deal, but they wanted more control. We couldn't agree, and that's when things started to go south," writes Diamond Platnumz on his official Instagram page.

Diamond expressed frustration with Ziiki’s handling of Wasafi’s music, accusing the distributor of unjustly delaying the release of Lava Lava’s song “Kibango.”

He believes Ziiki’s actions are motivated by personal grudges against him and other Wasafi artistes.

"Ziiki is playing dirty. They're using their power to control our music, and it's not fair to the artists or the fans," he further laments.

The conflict poses a significant risk to artistes like Lava Lava, whose careers and earnings could suffer due to delayed releases.

Moreover, the strained relationship between Wasafi and Ziiki threatens to disrupt the smooth operation of the music business, potentially impacting the success of artistes and labels.

On his part, Lavalava shares, "It's frustrating to see our hard work being held back because of this dispute. Our fans deserve better," following Diamond Platnumz's posts.

Fans suggest that a that a peaceful resolution that respects the interests of all parties is imperative in order to resolve the conflict. Others call for an open dialogue and negotiations between the two parties.

"Wasafi and Ziiki should sit and discuss for a mutually beneficial agreement," reads most comments.

Amidst constraints, Diamond reassured his fans that the song would be released today, even if it had to be distributed through alternative channels like WhatsApp.

Waah Hitmarker stresses the importance of fan support in opposing what he perceives as deceptive tactics from Ziiki Media.

In response, Ziiki addressed the accusations made by WCB Boss regarding the blocking of "Kibango".

Ziiki states that they received the song on April 16, 2024, expecting to release it today, April 19, 2024, which goes against contractual agreements, emphasising the importance of adhering to business procedures.

As tensions rose between the two entities, fans eagerly awaited the resolution, caught in the crossfire of the music industry's intricacies.

A harmonious relationship between record labels and distributors is vital for the success of artistes and the industry as a whole. Fans are still optimistic that both parties will find common ground and move forward positively.