In what was one of the most highly anticipated events of the weekend, the Furaha Festival turned out to be a dramatic affair, much to the disappointment of many fans.
The event, organized by Willis Raburu and the Furaha Festival team, was expected to feature Tanzanian artists such as Diamond Platnumz, Rayvanny, and Zuchu, alongside Kenyan artists including Khaligraph Jones, Mejja, Willy Paul, and others.
However, drama ensued when Willy Paul was allegedly denied entry to the stage at the time of his performance. This led to an uproar, with Pozze attempting to force his way onto the stage. He was allegedly beaten by one of the Wasafi crew’s bodyguards. Pozze took to Instagram to share his account of the incident, stating: “Tanzanian artists are being given priority at this event. This is sad. Why are Kenyans being disrespected in front of Bongo musicians?”
Following these events, Diamond Platnumz did not perform as he was scheduled to perform last. Rumors suggest that he wanted to perform earlier and leave the country, which may have led to changes in the performance order.
The Furaha Festival organizers released a statement acknowledging some issues during the event. “We deeply regret to announce that Diamond Platnumz did not perform. We made every effort to accommodate him and his team, but despite our best efforts, his team’s behavior proved regrettable,” read part of the statement.
In response, Diamond’s manager, Sallam Sk, also took to Instagram to release a statement: “Msanii aitwae Willy aseme ukweli alikua anabishana naa mtoto wa kike Zuchu. Aliblock njia Zuchu asiingie steji akisema alikuwepo kuanzia mwanzo hivyo alitaka apande yeye.”
Meanwhile, Kenyans on social media, particularly on X (formerly Twitter), have accused the event’s management of mistreating Kenyan artists on their own home soil. Many criticized them for alleged favoritism during the event.