Ugandan singer John Blaq has defended the special treatment given to Tanzanian superstar Diamond Platnumz during his recent visit to Uganda, arguing that the Wasafi Records boss has worked hard to earn his international status and deserves to be treated accordingly.
John Blaq’s comments come amid debate among Ugandan musicians over the preferential treatment foreign stars sometimes receive from local concert promoters, with some artists questioning why visiting international performers appear to enjoy privileges that are not always extended to homegrown talent.
However, John Blaq sees the situation differently. He believes successful East African artists should be celebrated for their achievements rather than criticised over the reception they receive when visiting neighbouring countries.
In an interview, the singer pointed out that international collaborations and cross-border music opportunities benefit artists from both sides of the region.
“Each time these artists visit, we get opportunities to work with them. The same applies when we visit their countries,” John Blaq explained.
He also shared his experience travelling to Tanzania for media engagements, where he discovered that Wasafi was playing his music.
“I was recently in Tanzania on media tours and was pleased to find out that Wasafi plays my music,” he added.
For John Blaq, such experiences demonstrate why East African musicians should focus on building relationships instead of creating unnecessary divisions.
He further argued that artists such as Diamond have invested heavily in their music careers, making their international recognition something they have worked to achieve.
“These guys have also worked hard for this status; they invest way more money in music than we do,” he said.
But perhaps his most interesting argument came when he compared Diamond’s reception in Uganda to how people traditionally welcome important guests into their homes.
According to John Blaq, the Tanzanian superstar was visiting Uganda as a guest, and promoters were simply ensuring he received the best possible experience.
“We shouldn’t make a fuss about that because Diamond was our guest. When a visitor comes, you serve them using your best cups and plates so that they have a good experience as a guest. We had to give Diamond the best welcome because he was a guest,” he said.
The singer also thanked the promoters, fellow artists and fans who contributed to Diamond’s reception during his Ugandan visit.
Interestingly, John Blaq believes musicians should not be the ones making the biggest issue out of how visiting stars are treated. Instead, he suggested that fans should have the final say.
“I thank the promoters, artists, and fans for showing him love. In any case, fans should be the ones to have an opinion on this, not artists. If they’re fine with how he was treated, why should artists make a fuss about it?” he asked.
His position differs from that of some Ugandan musicians who have publicly questioned the VIP treatment Diamond received.
King Saha, for instance, previously criticised the attention given to the Tanzanian singer, arguing that he should be appreciated for his music rather than other aspects of his celebrity status.
A Pass has also made remarks comparing his own musical standing to Diamond’s, adding another voice to the ongoing conversation.
With John Blaq taking a different position, the debate now highlights contrasting views among Ugandan musicians about international recognition, promoter decisions and the treatment of visiting East African stars.
For him, Diamond’s welcome was simple hospitality. A guest arrived, and Uganda brought out its best cups and plates.