This archive report was first published on 5 May 2020.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt social gatherings, Tanzanian artiste Diamond Platnumz is facing a significant financial blow. According to reports, he is set to lose approximately Sh80 million in earnings this year.
With a reputation for charging up to Sh1 million for an appearance within East Africa, Diamond had lined up 30 shows which have all been either cancelled or postponed to a later date.
Speaking to Mvumo TV in his homeland, Diamond expressed his concerns about the major disruption of the entertainment industry caused by the pandemic.
“Entertainment depends on gatherings. I had shows in Europe, America and Africa which have all been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That as an artiste means loss of income to me personally and to the label,” Diamond explained.
He noted that the disruption will have a ripple effect, impacting the payment of salaries for those who work for the label, as some employees do not rely on show earnings and require monthly salaries.
Despite the challenges, Diamond is banking on his large social media following to make some sales and mitigate the financial losses.
