Fasasi Diplomat Noor, better known as Diplomate, was born in Jinja, Uganda and came into the spotlight in January 2009 when he debuted his single ‘Umucakara W’ibihe’ featuring RnB artist Young Junior. Since then, his lyrical and collected flow has captivated music lovers, mixing philosophical themes in his songs. He has since released more memorable songs throughout the years, including ‘Ikaramu’, ‘Kure Y’imbibi’, ‘Umunsi Ucyeye’, Karibu Sana’, ‘Power’ and many more.
When asked about his inspiration, the ‘Ikaramu’ singer mentioned renowned Rwandan author Alex Kagame, and Malcom X as guiding lights in his creative process.
He said: "My role model is Alex Kagame. I like him very much. Many call him the father of Rwanda’s history because he made a lot of contribution and has been recognised globally due to his teachings, knowledge and how he has managed to put together history and volumes of books. He proved that among Africans we can have scholars, teachers, philosophers and historians.”
Balancing entertaining with an important message is a delicate art, the ‘Kalinga’ singer affirms, and he navigates this skillfully.
He explains, "When I stepped into the spotlight, I realized that standing out would necessitate finding an identity that distinguishes you from the masses. That’s what I tried to do and fortunately, it worked for me because I had much to offer that was very different from what was around.”
"Finding an identity was a one big breakthrough and most importantly when you bring something catchy, educating and entertaining is something very nice. Noticing that it has worked for me I decided to never change the theme and I am always thinking about the betterment of my journey and never to jump into a bandwagon,” he added.
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Unlike many rappers, the 36-year-old "Diptionary” as he calls himself, has been avoiding engaging in beef with other artists, living up to his vision of fostering unity and positivity in the industry.
He said: Personally, I have never had a beef with anyone and many people have asked me the reason. I just stay focused, calm and on the right path while avoiding disputes with my fellows. I have never had any beef with any artist.”
His debut song ‘Umucakara W’ibihe (forever slave)’s theme aligns with pan African movement dedicated to establishing independence for African nations and cultivating unity among African people.
He said: "It was my first song and I thought of composing and recording something that is going to educate masses and let them know a thing or two about our history, slavery and colonialism. I thought if I bring this track, people are going to love the message especially because it was new and that’s why I tried to put it together and people appreciated it.”
He added: "The message about the song is about the horrible history of our continent. As a pan Africanist, when you listen to that song, you pick some catchy messages and feel the necessity for Africans to make better progress. The message brings the love and feeling of belongings of our mother land.”