Critics want Diamond Platnumz off BET award shortlist

More than 18,000 people have signed a petition calling for a Tanzanian star to be disqualified for a US music award, accusing him of "whitewashing" the late president's government.

Diamond Platnumz, one of Africa's biggest stars, is up for the Best International Act at this month's BET awards.

But the petition organisers compare him unfavourably to recent BET award-winners Davido and Burna Boy, who "[use] their star power and fame to shed light on injustice" at Nigeria's #EndSARS protests last year.

Reporting the recent fallout, NairobiNews says that Diamond Platnumz was a vocal supporter of late President John Magufuli, and that one of his songs was used during ruling party campaign rallies last year.

Magufuli, who died in March, was accused of curtailing press freedom and harassing the opposition.

The website says at least one lawmaker - Nusrat Hanje MP - has come to the musician's defence, saying "we pray he wins the award".

This article was originally published by BBC News. [Photo: BET/Getty Images]