Gloria Bugie fires back at critics, promises Diamond and The Ben collaborations

Singer Gloria Bugie is not taking criticism lying down. If anything, she appears to have turned the backlash into fuel for her international music ambitions, promising fans that collaborations with Tanzanian superstar Diamond Platnumz and Rwanda's The Ben are on the way.

And judging by her latest declarations, Bugie is not just dreaming big; she is already mentally booking flights, shooting music videos and perhaps preparing for the Grammy red carpet.

The singer made the revelation during a TikTok Live on Monday night, days after finding herself at the centre of an online storm over her attempt to secure a photo opportunity with Diamond Platnumz during a press conference last Thursday

Her actions attracted criticism online, with some accusing her of embarrassing the country by appearing overly eager to meet the Tanzanian star.

But Bugie has a different interpretation of events. To her, it was not desperation; it was networking. And apparently, the networking department is already working on some major projects.

“Wait for my collaboration with Diamond very soon; don't argue with me. And for The Ben, also wait for it,” she declared.

Addressing the criticism, Bugie defended her decision to introduce herself to Diamond, arguing that nobody should feel too important to make an introduction, regardless of the occasion.

She reasoned that even at an international event such as the Grammy Awards, musicians should introduce themselves because fame does not automatically guarantee universal recognition.

“Whether they know you or not, introduce yourself,” she said.

To drive her point home, she dragged global superstar Beyoncé into the discussion, arguing that even Queen Bey could introduce herself at such an event.

Well, if Beyoncé can introduce herself, Bugie apparently sees no reason why she should wait for someone to announce her arrival. After all, opportunities do not always come knocking; sometimes, you have to walk up to them, microphone or no microphone.

Bugie insisted that she was simply putting herself out there, making connections and creating visibility for her music career.

But perhaps the most ambitious part of Bugie's latest declarations concerns her concert plans.

While many Ugandan musicians would consider filling Lugogo Cricket Oval a major career milestone, Bugie seems to have skipped several chapters and headed straight for London.

The singer declared that she would not stage her first concert in Kampala but would instead take her maiden show to the prestigious O2 Arena in London.