TAKEAWAYS

• Spice Diana claimed she is too big a brand to chase international stars like Diamond Platnumz for new song collaborations.
• The Ugandan diva suggested promoter pay gaps explain why local artists lack the massive wealth seen with regional icons.
• Tanzanian superstar Diamond Platnumz sparked fresh hype by praising R&B legend Aziz Azion during his recent Kampala visit.

Ugandan singer Spice Diana has declared that she is no longer at a stage in her music career where she needs to ask other artistes for collaborations, insisting that her brand has grown to a level where international musicians visiting Uganda should also be interested in working with her.

The singer made the remarks while discussing the recent visit of Tanzanian Bongo Flava superstar Diamond Platnumz, who travelled to Uganda for the Comedy Store 10th anniversary celebrations at Lugogo Cricket Oval.

Asked whether she would consider requesting a collaboration from international singers, she suggested that she had already moved beyond that stage of her career.

According to her, she considers herself an established brand, arguing that any international artiste who comes to Uganda should naturally recognize the value of working with her.

“I am a big brand,” she maintained, suggesting that a collaboration with her would not necessarily be a favour to her but could also benefit the other artiste.

She further emphasised that she was past the stage of asking people for collaborations, believing that her reputation and position in the Ugandan music industry should speak for themselves.

Her comments come at a time when Diamond continues to attract considerable interest from Ugandan musicians hoping to tap into his international profile, extensive fan base and established music business.

The Tanzanian singer, popularly known as Simba, is one of East Africa’s most commercially successful musicians, with a strong presence beyond the region. His collaborations with international artistes have also helped establish him as one of the continent’s recognisable music exports.

Interestingly, Diamond himself expressed interest in working with Ugandan singer Aziz Azion, whom he described as one of his favourite musicians in Uganda.

In remarks reported during his Kampala press engagements, Diamond explained that he had actually worked with more Ugandan artistes than musicians from any other country outside Tanzania, but the songs had repeatedly failed to reach the public.

He attributed the delays largely to timing, suggesting that the right moment for the projects had not yet arrived.

For Spice Diana, however, the question of collaborations is not entirely new. The singer has previously recorded music with Diamond, with their joint projects remaining unreleased despite years of anticipation from fans.

The two reportedly have multiple songs together, making their relationship one of the more talked-about potential collaborations between Uganda and Tanzania.

Spice Diana has previously spoken about the financial demands associated with producing a music video with Diamond, explaining that working with an international star of his stature can require substantial investment.

She has also worked with other artistes associated with Diamond’s Wasafi Records, including Zuchu and Mbosso.

Her collaborations with the two Tanzanian singers include Upendo with Zuchu and Yes with Mbosso, further demonstrating her existing connections within the Wasafi music circle.

The singer’s latest remarks therefore appear to reflect her belief that she has already established the regional connections and professional standing necessary to attract international collaborations without having to publicly pursue them.

Away from the collaboration conversation, Diana was also asked about the apparent financial gap between Ugandan musicians and Diamond Platnumz, who has built an impressive entertainment business and enjoys a lifestyle that includes access to private aviation.

The question touched on a subject that has frequently generated debate within Uganda’s music industry: why local musicians, despite enjoying considerable popularity and commanding large audiences, have struggled to accumulate wealth and assets comparable to some of their regional counterparts.

Diamond has become a symbol of commercial success in East African entertainment, with his music, Wasafi Records, endorsements, performances and other business interests contributing to his financial standing.

Asked why Ugandan musicians were seemingly not living at the same level, Spice Diana responded humorously that at least they were alive and had life.

Her response, although delivered jokingly, was followed by a more pointed observation about the economics of the entertainment industry.

Rather than simply comparing musicians’ lifestyles, Diana suggested that the money paid to performers at major events should also form part of the conversation.

She challenged those interested in understanding the financial differences to ask Comedy Store boss Alex Muhangi how much Diamond Platnumz was paid for his Ugandan performance compared with what local artistes received.