Kampala — Ugandan singer A Pass has sparked a fresh debate about musical ability in East Africa after declaring that Tanzanian superstar Diamond Platnumz is not in his league when it comes to technical artistry.
A Pass, whose real name is Alexander Bagonza, made the remarks on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, challenging the tendency to measure musicians primarily by their popularity, wealth and commercial achievements.
He argued that Ugandan musicians are often underrated because comparisons with regional stars rarely give sufficient attention to songwriting, vocal versatility and experimentation with different musical styles.
Speaking about Diamond Platnumz, A Pass said the two have different levels of technical ability, using a football analogy to emphasise his position.
“I’m not here comparing myself with Diamond Platnumz. I can’t because we are all different, but I will tell you on a technical level, we are very different artists. Diamond isn’t in my league. He’s juggling balls; I’m in the Champions League if we’re talking technical abilities,” he said.
He explained that his assessment was based on the ability to write songs, manipulate different vocal styles and combine genres in ways that demonstrate musical creativity.
“And that’s me talking about artistry, whether it’s songwriting, using different voices and blending genres. Doing all this stuff is totally different,” he added.
Diamond Platnumz has built one of Africa’s biggest music brands, enjoying considerable commercial success through hit records, international collaborations and his WCB Wasafi entertainment company.
A Pass, meanwhile, is known for his versatility across reggae, dancehall, R&B and Afro-pop, with songs such as Singa, Mmere and Tutu among his releases.
The singer’s remarks underline his belief that commercial dominance and technical musicianship are two different measures of success. His claim is likely to provoke reactions from fans, especially those who regard Diamond Platnumz’s commercial achievements as evidence of his musical standing.
