Kenyan singer Willy Paul has publicly called out Diamond Platnumz’s longtime manager, Sallam SK, after the Tanzanian music executive claimed that Diamond’s team was harassed during a recent show in Kenya.
The fresh exchange has once again reignited debate over the long-running tension between some Kenyan and Tanzanian artistes, with fans taking sides across social media.
Taking to his social media pages, Willy Paul condemned Sallam SK over his remarks, urging him to remain truthful whenever addressing issues affecting the entertainment industry.
The singer maintained that while he has immense respect for Sallam’s contribution to East African music, he was disappointed by claims that painted the events in Kenya differently.
“Sallam, I deeply respect you as a pioneer and greatly value the contributions you have made to the industry. At the same time, I kindly encourage you to continue upholding integrity and to consistently stand for what is right and true. I believe you are capable of even greater impact, and I trust you can do better,” Willy Paul wrote on Instagram.
Sallam SK claims Diamond’s team was harassed
Willy Paul’s statement came after Sallam SK alleged that Diamond Platnumz’s entourage experienced harassment during a show in Kenya.
According to Sallam, the situation became chaotic backstage, with tensions escalating to the point where members of Diamond’s team allegedly feared being arrested following a scuffle that erupted during the event in which Willy Paul was also among the performers.
The manager suggested that the incident created an unsafe environment, forcing Diamond’s camp to make difficult decisions regarding the performance.
His remarks quickly attracted reactions online, with many fans revisiting the controversial concert that dominated entertainment headlines.
Raha Fest drama
The latest exchange appears to stem from the controversial Furaha City Festival held in Nairobi in December 2024.
The concert was marred by confusion over the performance schedule, disagreements backstage and crowd unrest, eventually leading to Diamond Platnumz failing to take the stage despite being one of the headline acts.
At the time, Sallam SK accused Willy Paul of creating unnecessary drama and claimed he blocked fellow Tanzanian singer Zuchu from accessing the stage while insisting on performing as the headliner.
He also maintained that Diamond’s failure to perform was ultimately due to disagreements between his team and the event organisers rather than another artiste.
Willy Paul, on the other hand, accused organisers of mistreating Kenyan artistes, claiming local performers were sidelined in favour of their Tanzanian counterparts.
He also alleged that his team faced intimidation and poor treatment backstage during the event.
Fans react
Following Willy Paul’s latest message to Sallam SK, social media users expressed mixed reactions.
While some applauded the Kenyan singer for addressing the matter respectfully instead of escalating the feud, others defended Sallam SK, arguing that he was merely sharing Diamond Platnumz’s side of the story.
Others called on both camps to move past the controversy and focus on promoting East African music, saying continued public exchanges only deepen divisions between Kenyan and Tanzanian artistes.
Despite the differing accounts of what transpired during the show, the latest remarks have once again thrust the relationship between Willy Paul and Diamond Platnumz’s camp back into the spotlight, with fans eagerly watching to see whether Sallam SK or Diamond himself will respond.
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