Tehn Diamond
Zimbabwean rapper (born 1985)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tendai Ryan Nguni (born 17 January 1985), known professionally as Tehn Diamond or Tehn,[1] is a Zimbabwean rapper and a singer-songwriter.[2] He is a member of the hip-hop collective Few Kings,[3] known for their collaborative album releases.[4] Tehn Diamond also appeared in the Zimbabwean feature film Cook Off, which became the first Zimbabwean film to be released on Netflix.[5][6]
17 January 1985
- Rapper
- Singer
- Songwriter
- Actor
- Record producer
Tehn Diamond | |
|---|---|
Tehn Diamond performing at the Big Brother Africa finals in 2013 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Tendai Ryan Nguni 17 January 1985 |
| Origin | Harare, Zimbabwe |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Label | Independent |
Spouse | Miss Chindiya |
Early life
Tehn Diamond was born in 1985 to Sylvester Nguni, a Zimbabwean politician. He grew up in the gated community of Borrowdale Brooke in Harare, Zimbabwe, and attended St George's College. Initially pursuing a finance degree in Brisbane, Australia, he eventually shifted his focus to a music career.[7]
In 2008, the Australian government revoked the student visas of several children of senior members of former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's administration, including Diamond, as part of broader sanctions.[8] This led to his relocation to Singapore, before returning to Zimbabwe.
Musical career
Early years
Diamond released his first mixtape, Student of the Game: Higher Learning, in 2008,[9] followed by Student of the Game: Boys Will Be Boys in 2010. In 2012, he received the Best Video award at the National Arts Merit Awards for “Happy.”[10]
2012–present
In December 2014, Diamond embarked on a national tour in Zimbabwe, culminating in a performance in Bulawayo. The event was hosted by Vault Cosmetics.[11][12] Throughout his career, he has collaborated with various Zimbabwean artists, including The Djembe Monks, and performed on the reality TV show Big Brother Africa.[13][14][15]
Diamond's song "Happy," featuring fellow artist Jnr Brown, was played on major Zimbabwean stations like Star FM and Power FM,[16] and was nominated for Best Song of the Year at the Zim Hip Hop Awards.[17] On Valentine's Day 2015, he opened for South African rapper Cassper Nyovest in Harare.[citation needed]
On 1 January 2017, Tehn Diamond released his album, A Few Good Poems.[18][19] Later that year, he collaborated with Jnr Brown and Take Fizzo to release the album -The Feeling Ain't Fair 2 (#TFAF2), the sequel to his earlier mixtape.[20]
Awards
National Arts Merit Awards
Tehn Diamond won a NAMA (National Arts Merit Awards) in 2012 for Best Video ("Happy" featuring Jnr Brown).
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Student of the Game: Higher Learning | Best Hip Hop Artist | Won |
| Best Hip Hop Album | Won | ||
| 2012 | Student of the Game: Boys Will Be Boys | Best Video | Won |
Discography
Compilation albums
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| The Feeling Ain't Fair (with Few Kings) |
|