Ugandan socialite and entrepreneur Zari Hassan has responded to remarks by Tanzanian singer Diamond Platnumz suggesting that not all of the children he raises are biologically his.
Speaking on U.S. broadcaster iHeartRadio last week, Diamond — one of East Africa’s most commercially successful music stars — said he is aware that “some are not my kids,” but chooses to support them regardless.
“I know I do have kids,” the 35-year-old said. “But I also know that some are not my kids… I don’t want to argue with their mothers. I take care of all of them.” When pressed on the exact number, he hesitated: “Four, five, or six. You know, as I said, these things can sometimes get crazy. I make sure I do my best to take care of all of them.”
Diamond, whose real name is Naseeb Abdul Juma Issack, is publicly known to have four children with three women: two with Hassan — Princess Tiffah and Prince Nillan — one with Tanzanian model Hamisa Mobetto, and one with Kenyan singer Tanasha Donna. He recently married fellow Tanzanian musician Zuchu in a private Islamic ceremony, ending years of speculation about their relationship.
The artist has previously hinted that his mother, Sanura Kassim, believes there may be other children from earlier relationships. His latest comments have revived speculation, drawing attention to his complex family life.
Hassan, 44, addressed the issue in an interview posted to YouTube, making clear that she believes her two children with Diamond are unquestionably his.
“He wasn’t speaking about my children,” she said. “He has other kids, but they point at mine because they have all the attention. If they speak about others, they won’t get the needed traffic. But my children belong to Diamond. I would have taken them to their real father if it weren’t the case.”
She added that Diamond has never requested DNA testing for Tiffah and Nillan because “he is sure of their paternity.” Hassan said she would never send her children to Tanzania if she feared testing would be carried out without her consent.
“If I had doubts, I wouldn’t put them on a plane,” she said. “I left Ssemwanga when I was completely over him. I never went back when I started having children with Diamond. Same with Diamond. If I leave, I leave for good; there is no going back to that chapter. Ssemwanga is not Tiffah or Nillan’s father.”
