Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post provides information about Tanzanian Pop singer Diamond Platnumz, information about American R&B singer Neo-Yo, and information about the song "Marry You" by Diamond Platnumz, featuring Ne-Yo.
The lyrics for "Marry Me" and a video of that song are showcased in this post along with selected comments about skin color from that YouTube video's discussion thread. (Read my note below about why I chose this topic as my focus.}
The content of this post is presented for socio-cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Diamond Platnumz and Ne-Yo for their musical legacies. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publisher of this video on YouTube.
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INFORMATION ABOUT DIAMOND PLATNUMZ AND HIS SONG "MARRY YOU"
Excerpt #1
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond_Platnumz
"Naseeb Abdul Juma (born 2 October 1989), popularly known by his stage name Diamond Platnumz (or simply Diamond), is a Tanzanian Bongo Flava recording artist and dancer from Tanzania. He is best known for his hit song "Number One" which he featured Nigerian artiste Davido. Diamond has won numerous awards at Channel O and the HiPipo Music Awards....
Diamond is considered influential among his fans, and is said to be the most loved and decorated Tanzanian artist at the moment.[3] He was believed to be the highest selling Tanzanian artist of ringtones by mobile phone companies in 2013, as well as being among the artists earning the highest income in the African Great Lakes region's music industry.[3]"...
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Excerpt #2:
From http://rogmusicafrica.com/2017/02/04/tanzania-diamond-platnumz-first-east-african-artist-to-sign-with-universal-music-group/ "Diamond Platnumz the first East African artist to sign with Universal Music"
Diamond will join the likes of PSquare that are equally signed to the same company.
Tanzanian superstar, Naseeb Abdul Juma, known as Diamond Platnumz is one of Africa’s most marketable artiste, he even turned down a chance to sign with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation Record Label opting for negotiations with Universal Music Group, a source has revealed....
The singer has announced the release of his collaboration with international R&B singer, Neyo on the track ‘Marry You’ the music video, that was shot in Los Angeles and Johannesburg, would beam across Africa from Friday.
Diamond Platnumz teams up with American R&B superstar Ne-Yo on the sexy new single ‘Marry You’ is the first project Diamond will release with UMG. The collaboration that was recorded in Nairobi, Kenya in 2015, a result of the two artists meeting at the 2015 MTV Africa Music Awards in Durban...
I chose Ne-Yo to record this song with because he fits my style of music. I am so happy because I grew up listening to Ne-Yo songs and most of my style is inspired by him so it’s a dream come true for a kid who grew up in a slum area in Tanzania...
Juma explained that ‘Marry Me’ [is] a love story. It’s about when you want to convince the girl you are in love with to marry you. It’s a wedding song so am so sure it will be rocking all weddings soon,” he said.”...
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INFORMATION ABOUT NE-YO
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ne-Yo
Shaffer Chimere Smith, better known by his stage name Ne-Yo, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, dancer, and actor."...
Ne-Yo's debut album was In My Own Words, released in 2006. The album was critically successful, reaching number one on the Billboard 200. It is certified platinum in the United States, United Kingdom, Japan and Australia. Ne-Yo's first single "Stay", was released in September 2005. The song was a success on the R&B charts, but failed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100. His second single, "So Sick" was first released in November 2005. In the US, it was a commercial success, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100, and was also certified platinum four times in the US and twice in Japan. "When You're Mad" and "Sexy Love" were released afterwards from the album in 2006, reaching number 15 and number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100. In April 2007, Ne-Yo released his second studio album, Because of You, and was the second number one platinum-selling album debuted on the US Billboard 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts. The album won a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Album at the 2008 Grammy Awards."...
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SHOWCASE VIDEO : Diamond Platnumz - Marry You ft. Ne-Yo
DiamondPlatnumz, VEVO Published on Feb 2, 2017
-snip-
"Marry Me" is said to be sung in Swahili and English. It's interesting that Google translate doesn't give translations for many of the Swahili words. I'm therefore wondering if some of those words are a slang form or a Pidgin form (if that is different) of Swahili.
Google translate gives this English translation for the Swahili words "niko mzima kwa sababu ya wewe tu" = "I’m fine because of you"
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LYRICS: MARRY YOU
(as sung by Diamond Platnumz, featuring Ne-Yo)
When I look at you
I see the ever very air I breathe
I see the sun girl how you shine on me
Niko mzima kwa sababu ya wewe tu
And when you talk to me
I hear the angels I can hear them sing
I hear the sound of our eternity
I am blessed to be your man this much is true
And nothing will ever will happen
Give to you baby if you'll take me, you girl
See forever something I just can't do
No, Not without you
I want to marry you (ooh lalalala)
I want to marry you (ooh lalalala)
I want to marry you (ooh lalalala)
Aaah twende kwa mama papaa
I want to marry you (ooh lalalala)
I want to marry you (ooh lalalala)
I want to marry you (ooh lalalala)
Aah twende kwa baba na mama yangu
Oooh baby hadithi hadithi utamu Korea
Oooh baby leo najihisi hamu kuongea
Oooh baby yalio ndani ya mtima
Nikueleeze how i feel
Mmh vile kupenda malazi ya moyo Ntampenda nani
Sio mfupa mwenzio kibogoyo utanitesa honey
Vile mate wanakumezea
Kutwa wanakumendea
Ni pressure kizungu zungu
Eeeh when you smile (ndo mi napendaga)
Eeeh when you smile (ndo mi napendaga)
Eeeh when you smile (ndo mi napendaga)
When you smile (ndo mi napendaga)
I want to marry you (ooh lalalala)
I want to marry you (ooh lalalala)
I want to marry you (ooh lalalala)
Aaah twende kwa mama papaa
I want to marry you (ooh lalalala)
I want to marry you (ooh lalalala)
I want to marry you (ooh lalalala)
Aaah twende kwa baba na mama yangu
Now and forever we'll be together
I want you only holy matrimony
say you'll be with me, all eternity
say I do
Nidekeze
Source: http://www.bongolyrics.com/song-lyrics/marry-me-by-diamond-platnumz
Note: "Bongoland" is a vernacular referent for Tanzania.
I'm not sure if these lyrics are correct. Several websites have different lyrics for some of the words in this song. For example, here's another website that purports to have the lyrics to Diamond's "Marry You" song: http://spur.innovware.net/entertainment/music/marry-you-ne-yo-ft-diamond-platnumz-lyrics/.
Additions and corrections are welcome.
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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S COMMENT
I'm focusing on this sub-set of comments because I find them to be culturally significant in the context of the subject of colorism, particularly since most of the online articles that I've found about colorism focus on African Americans.
Here's a link to one of those articles: https://www.bustle.com/articles/37427-5-truths-about-colorism-that-ive-learned-as-a-black-woman-in-nyc 5 Truths About Colorism That I've Learned As a Black Woman In NYC By Kristin Collins Jackson, Nov 18 2014
A quote from that article indicates that "Colorism is the principle that those with lighter, fairer skin are treated with a higher regard than those with darker skin, and it happens both between racial communities and within them."
-snip-
I should note that other YouTube comment threads for contemporary African music that I've read (such as some Nigerian videos discussion threads) included similar comments criticizing what appears to be a preference for lighter skinned women in those videos YouTube discussions threads. Some commenters on some of those discussion threads were also highly critical about the widespread practice in Africa and elsewhere (but not in the USA) of using skin bleaching products).
I've presented these comments in different sub-sets. All of these comments are from 2017. Every comment in these sub-threads may not be quoted in this compilation.
I've numbered these comments (within their sub-sets) for referencing purposes only.
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SELECTED COMMENTS ABOUT SKIN COLOR (COLORISM) FROM THAT YOUTUBE VIDEO'S DISCUSSION THREAD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdOaBtUvH80
Comment sub-set #1
1. Marybella Criola Guigui
"Loving a chance given to a black girl on the video, #blackisbeautiful 🙌🏾👏🏾👍🏾🙏🏾
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2. sauda obuba
"Marybella Criola Guigui i was excited seeing her..... I was like "we" made it 😉
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3. Gabriel _
"#everygirlisbeautiful is what you should be typing though :p"
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4. Faith Nyagwoka
"Yes! First thing I Loved about this Video. Love that the leading lady is Dark skinned, with so any young African ladies resulting to skin bleaching to feel beautiful this is a great step #blackisbeautiful"
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5. Marybella Criola Guigui
"Faith Nyagwoka exactly where I wanted to be... this is huge step! With this so many sisters will think twice about bleaching! We're beautiful indeed 🙏🏾"
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6. Flavia Mwebe
"Marybella Criola Guigui, you're so right first time in Diamond's video😉"
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7. Reply
meriam mustefa
"Marybella Criola Guigui
thank God I finally find one person who see wat i see,every clip of this guy is always with white or some type Indians or Arabs"
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8. Marybella Criola Guigui
"meriam mustefa I'm so pleased with him right now! I love Diamond and all he's songs are so beautiful... maybe he didn't understand what he did by giving this chance to a black woman.! Confidence is the key, she's beautiful and with this so many others will think twice before about bleaching their skin!"
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9. Ant rip
"+Marybella Criola Guigui Because of a video most African women won't see? Self esteem must be really low if one black girl in a video can raise it."
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10. Tonny Okello
"Most of Diamond's are black women and most these views are as a result of black women so I don't know how you arrive at your conclusion that African women won't watch this! This music video will also play in TV stations all accross Africa."
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11. jahtheking17th
"Marybella Criola Guigui I know, it's disturbing how they never use dark skinned women in their music, this is a start, I hope we see more of it."
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12. Caesar Vespasian
"LOL Over 536 African women jealous of White women LOL Get over your jealousy, the Whites are kings and queens of this world, and anyway this "black woman" is wearing a giant wig to look like she has hair like a White woman's instead of African hair LOL"
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13. Chantelle Machokoto
"Caesar Vespasian damn can you just listen to the song and move the negativity somewhere else"
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14. Rhozzie Bandi
"Marybella Criola Guigui ,first thing i noted"
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15. christine osicho
"Marybella criola Guigui Neyo never uses yellow yellow girls as main actress in his videos which is great as society is making little girls believe that just because they are dark they aint attractive thus cases of skin bleaching are high"
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16. christine osicho
"SaoirseFilmCellar Africa, in Kenya we call very light skinned African gals like the one with the curly hair in this clip "yellow yellow"
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17. Farhan Ali Ahmed
"this is dope I'm very pleased that he used beautiful black lady"
man we appreciate #blackgirls r so adorable 💯✔✌👏
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18. AMG
"I tend to think that this type of reasoning propagates racism. It's like saying blacks should use black girls in their videos and whites to also just use whites. And that's segregation based on race. It's better if we just appreciate each other without underlining whether one is black or white. Like just saying the woman is beautiful, not saying a beautiful black lady, as if the other black ladies are not beautiful #MyThoughts"
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19. Farhan Ali Ahmed
"AMG I don't responsible how u understood my talk but I didn't mean that way I was just trying to point out that many of African artists don't use black girls in their videos I'm not racist but if we african don't proud of our black ladies who is gonna do that"
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20. Afrimedia
"But whats the big deal ? She still has a straight hair European type weave on her empty head !"
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21. Afrimedia
"Yeah she is empty headed....all black women who wear weaves are empty headed,"
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22. Afrimedia you are dumb, all women in all races wear weaves and Extensions , and that makes them empty headed !!"
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23. Moi Mash
"No one said a black Lady is not appreciated if he is in a good video like this one. Why do you like making everything an issue. Waaaah. So infuriating and irritating at the same time."
-snip-
This sub-set of comments are from two different parts of that discussion thread.
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Comment sub-set #2
1. amaal dhal gabeed
"black girls are so beautiful 😍😍😍😍😍I love this song like crazy 😍😍😍😍😍😍 I'm from somalia 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍 diamond good job man 😘"
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2. daniel elibariki
"you meant Black girls? Yes they are OMG"
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3.Ant rip
"Why do you look like you use Diana bleaching cream"
-snip-
This comment is directed toward amaal dhal gabeed and refers to that commenter's photograph.
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4. Maggie F
"Ant rip Black women come in all shades and she could have some Egyptian or Yemeni etc heritage as Somalia is not far from North Africa or the Middle East."
-snip-
This is the end of that sub-set of comments to date except for a commenter who indicated that she or he is from Ethiopia.
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