IGIHE

Category: Entertainment

  • Third Salax awards on tonight

    All roads will this evening lead to the Gikondo expo ground in Kigali for the third Salax awards. The event will honour last year’s best performing musicians and producers.

    The event, originally originally scheduled for Petit Stade, was moved to Gikondo due to a national conference expected tomorrow at the former venue.

    Chief organiser Etienne Kalisa asked fans to turn in big numbers since the new Gikondo venue is more sizable. Among artists nominated include such luminaries that include Urban Boys, Miss Jojo and Dream Boys.

    Currently organisers are in talks with various transport companies to facilitate movement of fans throughout the concert. 

    Below are nominees for tonight’s awards.

    Regional artists 2010

    .Eddy Kenzo : Uganda
    .Good Lyfe : Uganda
    .Kidumu : Burundi
    .Longombas : Kenya
    .Ali Kiba : Tanzania

     Best video songs of the year 2010

    .Baza : Tom Close
    .Siwezi Enda : Miss Jojo
    .Ni wowe wenyine : The Brothers
    .Impeta : Faycal
    .Amahoro : Gaby
    .You : Kitoko

    Best song of the year.2010

    • Igipimo : Mendy
    • Mpamiriza ukuri : Dream Boyz and Jay Polly
    • Siwezi Enda : Miss Jojo and DNG
    • Same hood :_Pacson

    • Mama w’ abana : Tom Close and Good Lyfe
    • Amatsiko : Naason
    • Zubeda_Kamichi yakoranye by The Ben

     Best music producer of the year 2010

    . Pastor P (Narrow road Studio)
    • Lick Lick (Unlimited Records)
    • Clement (Kina Music studio)
    • Jay P (Hope Street Records)
    • Junior (Unlimited Records)

    Best upcoming artist of the year 2010 

    .Peace
    .Emmy
    .Naason
    .Knowless
    .Olvis
    .Edouce

    Best artist of the year in “Afro beat” 2010

    .Kamichi
    .Kitoko
    .Uncle Austin
    .Elion Victory
    .Alpha Rwirangira

    Best artist of the year 2010

    .Lil G
    .Lil Ngabo
    .Young Grace
    .Ciney
    .Babou

    Best artist of the year in “R&B” 2010

    .King James
    .Mani Martin
    .Tom Close
    .Faycal
    .The Ben
    .Meddy

     Best artist of the year in Hip- Hop” 2010

    .Neg G The General
    .Bull Dog
    .Diplomate
    .Riderman
    .Jay Polly

    Best artist of the year in gospel songs
     .Aline Gahongayire
    .Dominic Nic
    .Uwiringiyimana Theogene (Bosebabireba)
    .Tonzi

    Best group artist of the year 2010

    .Dream Boys
    .Just Family
    .The Brothers
    .Urban Boys

    Best album of the year 2010

    .Me : Faycal
    .Impinduramatwara : Riderman
    .Ni we Mesiya : Nyamitari Patrick
    .Ifaranga : Kitoko

    Best female artist of the year 2010

    .Miss Jojo
    .Knowless
    .Aline Gahongayire
    .Miss Shanel
    .Paccy

    Best male artist of the year 2010

    .Mani Martin
    .King James
    .Riderman
    .Jay Polly
    .Tom Close

  • Hotel spearheads East African cultural integration

    Despite being a few months old Gikondo-based Roasters hotel has become a cultural melting pot for East African communities.

     A co-owner of the establishment Fred Korir explains that traditional events are part of the hotel’s objective to promote cultural exchange, which also plays a big role in the regional integration process.

    Popular cultural events held so far are particularly Kenyan themed, yet related ones from other countries are underway. Recent events include Kenya’s Kikuyu based Mugithi night, Luyha’s Murembe night and Kalenjin’s Tumin night. Cultural events from other countries Uganda’s Baganda night are scheduled to feature in the new future followed by events from Tanzania and Burundi.

    Korir’s counterpart Caleb Kenyanya points out that Rwandan and Burundian patrons are supportive of the cultural themed nights and have requested their respective countries to equally be featured.

    “Currently, we’re planning a Luo night followed by a Rwandan Intore night because we would also want Kenyans to learn more about this rich culture since some of them are busy in offices and might have less time to learn from their neighbours,”

    “So far, the Rwandan culture has taught us a lot. That’s why during this month’s Umuganda (communal cleaning), we intend to visit an orphanage and assist them in cleaning their premises,” he discloses.

    The cultural nights consist of various activities including a featured community’s dancing techniques, food and most interestingly, basic learning of language.

    Korir discloses that a Kikuyu meal known as mukimo has, for instance, been a favourite among the locals. “It (mukimo) is made from boiled potatoes which are smashed with vegetables and green maize. The meal is very nutritious.” 

    Worldwide events are also celebrated at the establishment including the Bob Marley commemoration, which was held on May 13. Other popular events include Valentine’s Day and Women’s Day.

    The events have set the stage for talent promotion where upcoming local musicians would interact with renowned regional artists.

  • Uncle Austin discloses reason for quitting radio

    Radio 10 presenter and musician Uncle Austin has announced his intentions to quit the broadcasting profession and concentrate on his music. His daily radio show “The Overdrive” will be pined for by his radio fans, who have revealed their concerns during his last shows.

    In the music scene, Uncle Austin is renowned for his hit songs Nzakwizirikaho and Gapapu.

    Austin’s departure from the media remains a dilemma to many since it is through radio that he gained his fame. To clear the air, the artist claimed that his music had reached a critical stage especially among his fans. He gives that as the reason he intends to resign and concentrate on better music delivery.

    “The music industry is doing well now and singing is my calling. I can feel it,” he remarks.

    He further points out that he felt the calling when his first songs received massive attention from his fans, most of them youth from both Rwanda and the region.

     Austin is quick to highlight plans for his music career. Topping the list are video shoots for his latest hits Nakuvala and Nzakwizirikaho due in two weeks.

     The artist whose music is a blend of R&B and Afro fusion is presently working on his debut album produced by Kigali based producer Lick-Lick.

     “Very soon, I’m releasing a new hit called Ndagukunda Nzapfa Ejo,” the artist says.

     Reacting on his poetic title, which translates to why fall in love with someone only to die tomorrow, Austin sighs and declines to comment until the song is out.

     He further discloses that his poetic titles are one of his tricks to capture audience attention. 

  • Female artistes out of the Guma Guma superstar loop.

    The names of the ten nominees in the much awaited Primus Guma Guma superstar competition were finally disclosed last Friday at the Kigali Serena Hotel main hall. The by invitation-only event that was broadcast live on Rwanda national television attracted thousands of music enthusiasts.

    However, the missing ingredient was the absence of female artistes among the ten nominees to fight it out in the latter stages of the competition. The ten nominees are Dream Boys, Dr. Claude, Urban Boys, J-Polly, Riderman, Rafiki, Mani Martin, Kitoko, King James and Tom Close.

    In an interview with IGIHE.com, the Bralirwa Primus Brand Manager, Jean Pierre Uwizeye, said the lack of female nominess was based on the judges who not deem them proficient enough, dispensing with rumours that Bralirwa had a role to play in that. He further pointed out that Miss Jojo chose not to be involved in the competition due to her Muslim beliefs that deter her from branding alcoholic products. He observed that another popular artiste Shanel could not take part in the contest due to her other musical engagements in Canada.

     “Miss Shanel is already abroad so she cannot be a nominee ; this competition was meant for Rwandan artists in Rwanda,” he said, observing that even for some of the female participants who took part like Aline Gayongire, her votes tally did not add up.

     “So if the Rwandan people are thinking that it was done on purpose, it truly wasn’t,” he spelt out.

    When contacted to corroborate her non-participation in the competition, popular artiste Miss Jojo said that she balked to join in due to personal reasons.

     “My work, religion and personal life work hand in hand”, she said told IGIHE.com.

    One of the judges, Jean Paul preferably known as JP a popular music producer acknowledged that culture may have had a part to play in discounting female musicians.

     “I believe that Rwandans don’t want to see their daughters dancing provocatively on stage, it’s not in our culture”,

     “ I have to agree, but the truth is I am not the only one voting and I also believe that the ten who were chosen have worked harder and longer in this industry and deserved their votes. ”

     Miss Jojo concurred. “The female artists are trying but they are still new and young in this business. They really have to have great ambition in this industry and work hard. I mean really hard, so they can attain the level of their brothers ; then we can compete fair and square”, “This is just the beginning, the sky is the limit”.

     Meanwhile, when the competition ensues, the contestants will perform alongside a live band and the judgment would be based on their performances.

    A road show will be held in different parts of the country, including Huye, Rusizi, Nyamagabe, Karongi, Muhanga, Byumba, Kibungo, Rubavu, Ruhengeri, Kigali and Nyagatare, as contestants egg on their fans to support them during the final competition slated for July 30 at Amahoro national stadium.

    The contestants will compete for the grand prize of Rwf6 million and record a song with international star, Sean Kingston, among other prizes.

  • BRALIRWA launches star search contest

    The country’s largest beverages manufacturer, Bralirwa through its Primus beer brand will sponsor a music competition dubbed ‘Primus Guma Guma Super Star’. Among the main highlights of the three month competition is a concert that will feature one of the most recognisable faces in world music Sean Kingston. The Jamaican-American singer is scheduled to jet into the country on 30th July 2011to grace the finals and perform live.

    In an exclusive interview with IGIHE.com, the brand manager of Primus and Heineken, Jean Pierre Uwizeye said that BRALIRWA through the Primus brand is launching the competition with initial ten contestants who have been preselected by the local media.

    Uwizeye said that in March this year, the local media were invited to conduct a pre-selection of the most promising artists who would be revealed on Saturday, 7th May 2011.

     ”After illuminating on the top ten artists on 7th May 2011, all those artistes will each receive RwF 1.5million. They will then perform concerts countrywide as a way of campaigning for votes,” Uwizeye said.

    He observed that the competition would be conducted in three phases with the first selection due for 16th May. The top ten artists would campaign from one province to the other and thereafter, the public would from 2nd July 2011 vote in their favourite musicians. Each fan would be limited to two sms votes.

    Uwizeye explained that BRALIRWA alongside the partner telecommunications companies would ensure there is no manipulation of the votes.

    Through the polling, fans will select the top seven contestants. Subsequently, the battle for the winner among the four finalists will take place from 9-16 July 2011. This time, the supporters will send in only one text message per week, which translates to two votes in two weeks.

    The winner will be declared on 30th of July. During the gala, Sean Kingston will perform live alongside Rwanda’s most talented artistes. The winner will scoop Rwf 6 million on top of a free ticket to the USA to record a song with Sean Kingston. 

    Uwizeye disclosed that the Primus Guma Guma Super Star contest is organised by promoters from other East African countries to make it a success. 

  • Should Rwandans participate in the Big Brother Africa Reality Show?

    This year’s edition of Big Brother Africa (BBA), the television reality show, is underway in South Africa without Rwandan contestants yet again. Surprisingly, countries such as Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, which are in the same region as Rwanda, continue to send contestants to the show. This raises many questions on why Rwanda continues to miss out on the show despite its buoyant local entertainment industry. IGIHE.com interviewed some prominent Rwandan artists to gauge their opinions. Below are their comments :

    Alpha Rwirangira, the winner of 2009 Tusker Project Fame (TPF).
    “Rwandans cannot participate in the BBA because there is no privacy in that house. According to the Rwandan culture, it is unacceptable to expose one’s privacy. People’s privacy is very important in Rwanda ; one cannot feel content when they see their daughters and sons exposing themselves in the name of gaining fame. ”

    Former Miss Kigali now Miss East Africa, Cynthia Akazuba
    “I cannot participate in the show because contestants are exposed to cameras everywhere in the house. Besides, Rwanda has its own culture. If other cultures allow nudity, it does not mean that we will do the same. We have our own culture which represents who we are ; it does not mean that we have to ape all the western influence.”

    Mani Martin, Singer
    “I would wish to see Rwandans take part in the BBA. I believe Rwanda has people who qualify to be in the show and I do not think that it is against the Rwandan culture. This is not true that BBA exposes housemates’ nudity. The exposure is among those caught in nasty acts. If you don’t do funny things in the house, when will the cameras capture you ?”

    Edward Bamporiki, film producer and scriptwriter.
    “Rwandans should take part in the BBA as long as they qualify. I believe that housemates’ nudity is exposed because they want it that way. BBA is like acting in a movie where you are asked to do things that do not reflect your real life experience.”

    Fred Kalisa, Movie Actor
    “BBA is against our culture and I can never do what is against our culture”.

    Dickson Rwiyamirira, Contact FM Radio Presenter and a Tusker Project Fame judge during last year’s auditions in Kigali.

    “Rwandans cannot take part in BBA because they are too shy and respect their culture. ”

     

  • Against all odds: Young crooner determined to succeed

    He is an unpretentious man from a humble background, and opts to keep his personal life private. Mani Martin, which is his name on and off the stage, does not know his place of birth which is why he perhaps avoids going into the details about his family.

    Martin, 22, says that he fell in love with music when he was six years old. He grew up listening to music by such renowned Rwandan crooners as Cecile Kayirebwa and Jean Paul Sambutu and hitherto, Martin draws inspiration from the two artistes.

    The young and talented artist, who has been singing for the last five years, has never turned his back to music. So far, Martin has released two albums with a third one due soon.

    He says he is optimistic that his music would feature in the international scene in coming days.

    When IGIHE.com asked his about the challenges he encounters in music, his answer was succinct, “The first problem is a low market for our music here in Rwanda.”

    He however explains that this does not stop him from producing his music no matter how little the money is.

     He says that he could do a collaboration with an upcoming artist as long as they share similar interests.

    Mani Martin appeals to the media to help develop the music industry in the country. He further calls upon the government to shore up the music industry and ensure that local music is archived for posterity.

  • Rwanda participates in Burundian film festival

    Rwanda is taking part in an international film festival that is presently ongoing in the Burundian capital, Bujumbura.

    The festival dubbed Fest cab, which is taking place for the fifth time, started on 29th of April and shall end on 6th of May 2011.

     Among Rwandan films to be screened in that film festive include the ‘The Long Coat’ and ‘Mayibobo’, which are directed by Eduard Bamporiki and Yves M Niyongabo respectively.

    Burundian Minister of Culture and Youth Jean Jacque Niyongabo said that this year’s festival was more high profiled compared to previous ones.

    “We have many renowned actors, who won different awards such as Eddy Munyaneza, and Jean Marie Ndihokubwabo and many others”.

    Participants are drawn from several countries including Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, and Kenya, Belgium among others.

    The president of Fest cab Leonce Ngabo said that the festival would help participants to discover different cultures and also the history of different countries.

  • Kizito’s concert attracts huge crowd

    Kizito Mihigo, one of the most celebrated Rwandan singers saw an overwhelming turn up of fans for his music concert. The concert held at Expo Grounds in Kigali during the Easter weekend attracted a host of senior government officials and a multitude of youth.

    Kizito organised the concert to deliver a message of peace, unity and reconciliation among Rwandans and also used the concert as a fundraiser towards his peace foundation, Kizito Mihigo for Peace (KMP).

    During the concert, Mihigo entertained his fans with songs such as Twanze Gutoberwa Amateka, one of his latest releases.

    Local artists Sgt Robert, Eric Senderi, Tonzi, Patric Nyamitari and comedian and actress Mukarujanga also performed.

    Kizito commented, “I’m pleased that my message is given mostly to the youth because they are the future leaders.”

    Kizito, a Genocide Survivor is 29 years old, studied music in Europe.

  • Upcoming Rwandan artists speak about their future

    Rwanda’s music industry continues to flourish with more youngsters joining the stage to take the industry to a higher level. IGIHE.com’s Dianah Mutimura spoke to some upcoming local artists about their dream, the music industry, and challenges it faces. Below are the excerpts.

    Joliss Peace
    He is a 20-year old singer currently in senior six at Don Bosco, a high school in Eastern Province. His stage name is Joliss Peace but his fans call him ‘Peace’. Joliss wants to be famous and he is determined to take the local music industry to the next level. As a student, he says his main challenge is to combine studying and singing but he loves both.

    His love for music dates back in his childhood. He says when he was young ; he used to attend concerts with his mother, something that increased his interests for music.

    In primary six, Joliss started writing songs and he named his first song ‘Mpamagara’ meaning ‘call me. The song was released last year and became a hit. Tigo, a mobile company is now using it a caller tune. Joliss believes that the local media industry has a role to promote
    the music industry. This could be done by playing local songs on the
    radio stations.

    Life
    Life is a new group, which emerged early this year. It is composed of two young male singers Serge Gatsinzi and Audace Willy Mucyo. Serge is known for his song ‘Mbwire iki umukunzi, and Amapingo y’Urukundo. Local radio stations play these songs often.

    Before forming the group, Gatsinzi and Mucyo were friends and created the group ‘life’ after realizing that they shared passion for music.

    They have so far recorded their first single ‘Ndibaza’ and they are currently working on their second song expected to be released next month.

    Unlike Mucyo, Gatsinzi plays guitar. He says he has played guitar for the past 12 years. “I’m so in love with the guitar”.

    On the other hand, Mucyo is a songwriter and a dancer. He says he is currently on a level where he can teach dancing. He sings in hip-hop style. The group has worked with Producer Nicolas, the owner of Bridge Record, based in Kigali and is currently working with Lick Lick, the leading producer in Rwanda who owns Unlimited Record.

    Life believes that the local music industry should be valued like other sectors and this could help develop it.