Tensions are brewing behind the glittering lights of Tanzania’s top music label, WCB Wasafi, as two of its most prominent artists — Diamond Platnumz and Mbosso — find themselves at the center of what insiders are calling a “silent battle for dominance.”
While fans have long admired the chemistry between the two artists in past collaborations, recent developments suggest deepening friction, with both creative and business interests colliding as each artist stakes out a distinct identity.
According to sources close to the label, the rift began to surface when Mbosso began asserting more creative independence, pushing boundaries in sound and style that didn’t always align with the label’s traditional image.
“Mbosso has evolved,” says a WCB producer who requested anonymity. “He’s experimenting with different genres and international collaborations, and sometimes that doesn’t sit well when the label’s focus is to maintain a brand identity led by Diamond.”
Speculation intensified when Mbosso was absent from several key Wasafi events, including promotional tours and joint interviews — something previously unheard of in the tightly-knit WCB camp.
Fans also noted social media silence between the two stars, despite both artists releasing singles within days of each other earlier this month — a move that ignited rumors of internal competition.
While Diamond remains WCB’s founder and biggest draw, Mbosso has quietly grown a solid fan base, especially outside East Africa, with his romantic ballads gaining traction in West Africa and the Middle East.
In July, the two artists reportedly clashed over scheduling conflicts related to the production of a planned joint EP — a project that has now been “shelved indefinitely,” according to label insiders.
Still, both artists have downplayed talk of a feud. In a recent interview, Diamond stated:
“We are brothers before anything. Artists are allowed to grow, and that’s what Mbosso is doing.”
However, music industry analysts believe that as Mbosso’s star rises, WCB may be forced to rethink its artist hierarchy or risk internal fallout.
“This is no longer just about music. It’s about leadership, contracts, royalties, and freedom of artistic direction,” says entertainment analyst Rehema Kato.
For WCB, the situation presents a classic challenge: How does a label nurture individual talent while preserving a unified brand? Sources suggest that WCB is actively restructuring how it manages star artists, particularly those with aspirations beyond the East African market.
“WCB is at a crossroads,” notes Kato. “It can either evolve into a multi-headed label like Roc Nation or risk losing artists to rival stables or independence.”
Across social media, fans are divided. While some remain loyal to Diamond’s dominance, others are cheering on Mbosso’s artistic rebellion.
“Let Mbosso breathe and create,” one user commented on X. “Not every shadow is meant to be stood in forever.”
Whether the Diamond–Mbosso dynamic will culminate in open rivalry or a renewed collaboration remains to be seen. What is clear is that WCB’s golden image is being tested, and how the label manages its internal politics could determine the next era of Bongo Flava’s global influence.
