Ranking All Diamond Platnumz Albums From Worst To Best

From humble beginnings in Tandale, Diamond Platnumz has become one of the biggest musical exports from East Africa. Since his breakthrough over a decade ago, Simba has consistently pushed the boundaries of Tanzanian music with his unique fusion of Bongo Flava, East African Taarab, and Afropop, creating a sound that appeals to a global audience while retaining its core Tanzanian essence.

Diamond Platnumz is the first sub-Saharan African artist to earn over 1 billion YouTube views and has been nominated for best international act at the BET Awards three times. The Tanzanian powerhouse has remained a consistent presence on charts across Africa and beyond, racking up impressive numbers and becoming one of the most recognisable voices in African music.

Here, we look at Diamond Platnumz albums, ranking them from worst to best.

4. Kamwambie (2010)

While his debut album helped introduce Diamond to the East African music scene, it lacks the polish and innovation of his later works. Though songs like Nitarejea and Nalia Na Mengi showcased his budding talent, songs like Nibebe and Mbagala show his natural gift for crafting infectious melodies. The album also hinted at the R&B stylings he hadn’t yet developed and feels like the offering of an artist still searching for his signature sound, caught between traditional Bongo Flava elements and contemporary pop influences. Despite its flaws, Kamwambie captures the energy and ambition of a talented young artist on the verge of superstardom.

3. A Boy from Tandale (2018) 

A Boy from Tandale represents Diamond Platnumz at his most ambitious, as his quest for international acclaim is made no secret on this album. The album tries to balance Diamond’s signature intimate storytelling with commercial appeal, and he recruits mega stars like Davido, Rick Ross, Omarion, Ne-Yo, Flavour, Tiwa Savage, Vanessa Mdee, and Morgan Heritage to help his cause. The album is an attempt to tell the story of Diamond’s journey from Tandale to stardom while retaining the authenticity that made him connect with audiences in the first place. The album cuts across Bongo Flava, hip-hop, R&B, reggae, dancehall, Afropop, and Pon Pon. Packed with bouncy club bangers as well as bongo flava tunes in a bid to balance out the ambitious, genre-hopping songs, the result is an album that is unnecessarily long and lacks cohesion.

READ MORE: Ranking Every Davido Album From Worst To Best

2. Lala Salama (2012)

With his sophomore effort, Diamond presents a much more cohesive and refined sound that seamlessly merges Bongo Flava elements with modern Afropop and R&B sensibilities. The album is a masterclass in confident storytelling, with the Diamond’s soulful and melodic vocals creating a truly enjoyable listening experience. The album’s title song, Lala Salama, Chanda Chema, Kwanini, and Najua showcase his penchant for crafting infectious and heartfelt love songs, while records like Moyo Wangu and Mawazi display his ability to craft party-starting anthems.

1. First of All (2022)

Diamond’s most recent album is his most polished album to date. First Of All is the offering of an artist who has established himself on the continental and global stage and has cemented himself as one of the biggest African stars. The result is an album that effortlessly blends his signature sound with R&B, Afrobeats, Amapiano, and contemporary pop sounds. Records like Melody, Somebody, Loyal, Fine, and Sona demonstrate his improved songwriting while he maintains the melodic mastery that has made him an African music heavyweight. The album is a pristine take on love and is a testament to Diamond’s continued evolution while maintaining his core appeal.

Across four albums, Diamond Platnumz documents his evolution from local sensation to global megastar. With each release, he keeps raising the bar and reinventing himself. His unique ability to tap into the creations of others and reimagine them into something familiar, enjoyable, and unmistakably his has helped him create a blueprint for East African artists to achieve global recognition while staying true to their roots.