Presidential election campaigns in Tanzania did the unthinkable – uniting bitter musical rivals Diamond Platnumz and Ali Kiba behind President Samia Suluhu’s first date with voters on the big-ticket political stage.
Many artists performed in several rallies for the Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) Party.
But the two rivals only performed where the President went, a testament to their prime rate cards and stature as Tanzania’s biggest talents.
Her predecessor, John Pombe Magufuli, unsuccessfully tried to end the Diamond Platnumz-Ali Kiba feud, and also hired both to perform in his past campaign rallies. But even when they shared a stage, they did not shake hands or utter a word to each other.
Tanzanian riot police disperse demonstrators during violent protests that marred the election following the disqualification of the two leading opposition candidates in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, October 29, 2025.
Photo credit: Reuters
The violent outcome of the 2025 polls has produced an encore as the artists, whose rivalry has for years defined East Africa’s music scene, have been forced into desperate moves to protect their multimillion-shilling empires from angry protesters.
Multiple sources in Tanzania told the Nation that both artists have hired police officers and private security to provide round-the-clock protection of their assets, notably media houses and recording studios with equipment worth millions, and palatial homes furnished with opulence and bespoke luxury.
In the upmarket Mbezi Beach, a section of police officers has been contracted to protect Wasafi Media’s headquarters and Diamond Platnumz’s mansion.
While Mbezi Beach is insulated from angry public attacks by the presence of the Lugalo military camp just a few kilometres away, sources said that Diamond Platnumz opted to err on the side of caution by hiring extra security.
Tanzanian musician Naseeb Abdul Juma, popularly known by his stage name Diamond Platnumz, performs at Thika Stadium on December 2, 2018.
Photo credit: File | Nation
“Diamond’s notable properties are the Wasafi Media empire and his palatial home, both of which are situated in Mbezi Beach. Mbezi is an affluent neighbourhood and it also boasts an army barracks in the vicinity, and that has at least kept the angry protesters at bay. However, Diamond has also taken extra precaution and hired policemen and a private security firm to guard his home,” one source said.
And in the neighbouring, but equally affluent Mikocheni, another group guards Crown Media’s headquarters with Ali Kiba and his business partners picking up the tab for the extra security.
For days, protesters have been targeting businesses owned by or affiliated with celebrities who endorsed President Suluhu’s election bid.
The move by Diamond Platnumz and Ali Kiba follows attacks on businesses owned by celebrities Billnass, Juma Jux, Shilole and Sharobaro, which led to the destruction and theft of property worth millions.
Sources said that the affluence of the Mbezi Beach-Mikocheni corridor may have insulated Wasafi Media and Crown Media from attacks, but the two rivals have opted to err on the side of caution by hiring extra security to protect their assets.
Tanzanian musician Ali Kiba performs his favourite hits at the Koroga Festival which was held on November 15, 2015, at Arboretum Grounds, Nairobi.
Photo credit: File | Nation
Ali Kiba also hired police officers to protect his home in the less chic enclave in Tabata municipality.
“I spoke to Ali Kiba yesterday and he was doing okay. He told me the situation is still tense. Even though he endorsed Mama (President Suluhu), he wasn’t so vocal about it like the other artists. That might have eased the angry protesters’ attitude towards him and kept them from targeting his home in Tabata as well as his Crown Media in Mikocheni. Mikocheni is an affluent neighbourhood and is well protected,” another source said.
The source added that celebrities who endorsed the President’s election, and who own businesses in middle-income suburbs, are the ones who have borne the brunt of angry protesters who have branded the polls a sham.
A section of protesters attacked an electronics shop owned by Rapper Billnass, real name William Lyimo, and looted phones and other stock.
Juma Mkambala, known professionally as Juma Jux, and who, alongside Billnass, released the hit song Maboss in 2024, also lost millions when protesters targeted his boutique, African Boy, which recently entered a partnership with a Chinese-owned textiles firm.
Juma Jux is currently in Nigeria, visiting the family of his wife, Priscilla Ojo, following the birth of their first child.
Popular singer Shilole’s restaurant was burned down, while influencer Sharobaro’s clothing store was looted.
On Friday, Diamond Platnumz deleted several posts from his social media pages. The posts were campaign messages, rooting for incumbent Samia Suluhu.
Diamond Platnumz, real name Naseeb Abdul Juma Issack, moved to scrub his social media pages, following reports that several fans had started to unfollow him.
He is a co-owner of Wasafi Media, holding a 45 per cent stake. Juhayna Zaghalulu Ajmy owns a 53 per cent stake, while Ali Kahatib Dai owns two per cent of the Wasafi Media shares.
Wasafi Media was incorporated in 2018 and operates a record label, radio and TV stations.
Its headquarters in Mbezi Beach are a few kilometres from Lugalo military camp, which, our sources said, could have also insulated the business from attacks.
Ali Kiba was not as vocal as Diamond Platnumz during campaigns, but did not hide his support for President Suluhu’s election bid.
He attended several shows in which he urged supporters to back the incumbent in the October 2025 elections.
Mchengerwa is the Rugiji Constituency MP, and has been a constant in President Suluhu’s Cabinet.
He was appointed Minister of State in President Suluhu’s first Cabinet in 2021, before moving to the Culture, Artists and Sports docket following a reshuffle a year later.
In the 2023 Cabinet reshuffle, Mchengerwa was appointed Natural Resources and Tourism minister, before moving to his current post in the Regional Administration and Local Government docket.
He is also the President’s son-in-law, having married Zanzibari MP Wanu Hafidh Ameir, Ms Suluhu’s daughter.
Mbezi Beach and Mikocheni host several public figures. Former President Jakaya Kikwete is among the public figures with homes in Mbezi Beach.
