Tehn Diamond: The Student of the Game Who Became a Leader in the Game

Tehn Diamond, born Tendai Ryan Nguni on January 17, 1985, in Harare, Zimbabwe, has played a pivotal role in the country’s hip-hop scene. Growing up in the affluent suburb of Borrowdale and attending the prestigious St. George’s College in Harare, Tehn’s love for music blossomed at an early age. He fondly recalls childhood moments singing along to different records—a passion that deepened as he progressed through school and began exploring songwriting and rapping.

By Tanaka Denglish

After completing high school, Tehn moved to Brisbane, Australia, to pursue a degree in finance, with a brief stint in Singapore. However, his passion for music soon took precedence, leading him to drop out and focus entirely on his musical career. His official journey in the music industry began with the release of several independent mixtapes that quickly gained attention for their introspective lyrics and unique fusion of local and international influences.

Among these early releases was the critically acclaimed *Student of the Game* mixtape trilogy, which included *Student of the Game: Boys Will Be Boys*, *Student of the Game: Higher Learning* (2010), and *Student of the Game: The Pursuit of Amazing* (2011). These mixtapes showcased Tehn’s lyrical depth and storytelling ability, establishing him as a rising star in Zimbabwean hip-hop. Notably, his track “Grown Up Kid,” which later won a NAMA award, received significant airplay on local radio stations, marking his entry into the mainstream music scene. By this time, Tehn had already collaborated with the likes of Simba Tagz and Davina Green on tracks such as “The Sweet Life” and “Be Amazing.” In 2011, he also released *Love Is Evol* with Simba Tagz.

Tehn’s career took another leap forward when he co-founded the hip-hop supergroup Few Kings with Jnr Brown and legendary producer, Take 5 also know as Take Fizzo. Their debut album, *The Feeling Ain’t Fair* (2013), became an instant classic, featuring songs like “Boyz Dzangu” (featuring Mc Chita), “The Realness”, and “Happy.” The latter became a major hit, topping Power FM charts for weeks and receiving airplay on international channels like Channel O and Trace Urban, solidifying Few Kings’ presence on the music scene.

In addition to his music career, Tehn Diamond made his acting debut in the 2017 Zimbabwean film *Cook Off*. The movie, a romantic comedy about a single mother’s journey in a cooking competition, became the first Zimbabwean film to be featured on Netflix. Tehn’s performance was widely praised, showcasing his talent beyond the music industry. *Cook Off* received critical acclaim and was screened at various prestigious film festivals, including IFFR in Rotterdam, SIFF in Seattle, DIFF in Durban, and the Festival International du Film PanAfrican in Cannes.

Tehn Diamond’s live performances have also garnered international recognition. In 2013, he performed at the *Big Brother – The Chase* Live Eviction Show, delivering powerful renditions of “Grown Up Kid” and the smash hit “Happy” alongside fellow Few Kings member Jnr Brown, who also performed his chart-topping single “Madrinks.” That same year, Few Kings headlined the Zimbabwe Stand Up Summer Jam 2013 concert in the UK, further cementing their status as leading artists in Zimbabwean hip-hop. Their success was recognised with multiple awards, including Best Group at the Zim Hip Hop Awards held at 7 Arts Theatre in Harare, where Tehn also won the Best Male Award.

Following a hiatus for Few Kings in 2014 to work on solo projects, Tehn Diamond returned with the release of “Simudza Gumbo” featuring Dhadza D, which reignited anticipation for his debut album, which was supposed to be “The Perfect Tehn”. In 2015, Tehn Diamond represented the Zimbabwe at that year’s edition of West Africa’s biggest Hip Hop festival in Dakar Senegal in June 2015. This was part of a cultural exchange program between Shoko Festival and Festa 2H. 

In 2017, he finally released his highly anticipated album *A Few Good Poems*, featuring tracks like “The Amazing” (featuring M.anifest & Davina Green), “No Stress” (featuring Thaiwanda Thai), “Over It All” (featuring Ammara Brown), and “Relapse” (featuring Shingi Mangoma). Few still wished he had released “The Perfect Tehn” but ultimately everyone was appreciative of another full body length project in the form of an album from Tehn Diamond. The name “A Few Good Poems” was inspired by a line from Tehn’s favourite poet named Charles Bukowski. The album highlighted Tehn’s versatility and ability to blend different genres and styles. During this run, Tehn also extending his creative side which has also led him to develop a website for his fashion brand Tisu Ngoda Dzacho.

Tehn Diamond’s contributions to Zimbabwean hip-hop have been recognised with numerous awards, including accolades from the Zimbabwe Music Awards and the Zim Hip Hop Awards.”

Few Kings became active once again when no one expected it by releasing a promo cover with the date “01.10.2017”. The title of the album promo cover said “The Feeling Ain’t Fear”, which led people to belive that it was a typo but that was later clarified that it was a sequel to their debut album with the “Fair” being changed to “Fear”, which led to the hashtag “TFAF2” to immediately start trending. They delivered their sophomore album *The Feeling Ain’t Fear* in 2017 to their fans’ satisfaction as the album was available for free with an option to buy on Apple Music and after just a few days the album was at number 1. This album, featuring songs like “Still The Few,” “15 Billion (Hapana Hapana),” and “Kutaura Nemi,” won them the Best Group title at the Zim Hip Hop Awards, reaffirming their enduring impact on the music scene. They promoted the album on the *Kings of the Summer* tour, performing across various venues for different crowds and it kicked off in the city of Mutare in October.

Tehn Diamond has proven to be a driving force in Zimbabwean music, pushing the boundaries of hip-hop and expanding his influence beyond music into acting and other creative fields. His journey from being a young boy who loved music to dropping out of university to pursue his passion, to performing on international stages, exemplifies the power of dedication in shaping a successful and impactful career.”

X – @tanakadenglish
IG – @kingdenglish