Rwandan singer The Ben has described Tanzanian star Diamond Platnumz as a role model for African musicians, saying he looks to the singer’s career for lessons on how to grow and expand his own music.
The two artists exchanged praise during a media briefing on October 29, ahead of a joint performance scheduled for Friday, October 30, at Lugogo Cricket Oval in Kampala, Uganda.
The concert is part of celebrations marking 10 years of Comedy Store Uganda, an entertainment platform founded by Ugandan comedian Alex Muhangi.
Asked about sharing the stage again, The Ben said Diamond was more than just a fellow musician, describing him as a source of inspiration for artists seeking to build their careers.
“I don’t know if Diamond Platnumz receives the recognition he deserves, because to us musicians, he is like a book. He is a book that I read every day to learn from and use as an example in growing my music,” The Ben said.
Diamond, in turn, said he was particularly pleased to perform alongside The Ben, adding that he was eager to sing their joint song, “Why”, with him on stage again.
“I’m very excited. I feel tired of waiting. I have never gone on stage and left without performing our song, ‘Why’, and every time we perform it, I see how much you people love it. I am not going to wait for us to meet on stage,” Diamond said.
The artists first strengthened their musical partnership in January 2022 when they released “Why”, a collaboration that brought together Rwanda’s and Tanzania’s music scenes.
They later performed the song together at the Trace Awards held at BK Arena in Kigali on October 21, 2023.
Their most recent joint performance was at the Coffee Marathon Concert at Africa Coffee Park in Rwashamaire, Uganda, on May 24, 2025. The event, organised by Inspire Africa Group and partners, aimed to support rural women involved in coffee farming.
Comedy Store Uganda was founded by Muhangi in 2016 to promote comedy and entertainment through shows featuring comedians and musicians from Uganda and other countries.
Friday’s event is expected to bring together musicians and comedians from across East Africa.
