Diamond Changes His Name at Kili Awards

Number One singer Diamond poses for a photo after receiving the Song of the Year award at the Kilimanjaro Music Awards on Saturday night setting a record with seven grabs on the night

It was written in the skies so they claimed, and even in the face of a stiff contest during the awards season, Bongo Flava heartthrob Naseeb Abdul aka Diamond emerged the toast of the Kili Awards night. This gave him a chance to be the KING of Kili Awards for setting new record.

Bagging a total of seven awards with a win in all the categories he was nominated, a number that sets a new record for the awards since it was established 14 years ago.

The Number One singer who has also been nominated for other continental honours such as the Mamas and the Kora awards beat competition from most notably Lady JayDee to take home the Song of the Year trophy.

On an emotional night with former beauty queen Wema Sepetu by his side, the MTV award nominee also picked the Best Composer, Best Entertainer, Best Collaboration, Best Afro Pop Song, Video of the Year and Best Male artiste.

His record now cancels out the 2010 record that was set by 20 per cent who took home five awards, thus setting a personal and the awards milestone of most awards won by a single artiste.

Riding on the fame that he has garnered off his chat topping hit single which he released in October last year, the elated Diamond could not hold back his joy.

Basking in the glory was Wema Sepetu who took the opportunity to announce what many translated as their impending nuptials as she tagged herself as Diamond’s wife to be.

“As a future wife to be it is good to see my baby winning,” she said amid a thunderous applause.

As some of his contemporaries seem to be fading, it was evident that the crooner is just getting better and the only blip on the night could have been his fashion sense which the MC comically took issue with.

On a night when some messed up their speeches, the singer remained composed; on most occasions he remembered to thank his fans who he said were the pillar of his success.

Rivalling Diamond on the awards table was Jahazi Modern Taarab’s Mzee Yusuph, who picked up the Best Taarab song, Best Male Taarab singer, Best Taarab Band and Best Taarab composer.

Another notable winner on the night was rapper Fid Q, who for the first time took home the two hip hop awards, something pundits said it was a worthy wait.

Joining the list of winners were Vanessa Mdee and Young Killer who took home the Best RnB award and Best New Act respectively.

Uganda’s Jose Chameleon won the East African category with his song Tubonge which faced competition from Wyre and Amani both from Kenya.

And in an evening that was star studded, joyous live performances from artistes such as Diamond and a group of girls who surprisingly managed a band like act though they had none.

Featuring singers such as Meninah Atik, Vanessa Mdee, Angel Karashani and Mauwa, they were such a sight to behold as they wowed the audience with a medley of their renditions of popular songs.

But perhaps that was not all as famous saxophone player Mafumo Bila took the audience with some heart rending pieces.