Joshua Tuyishime, commonly known by his stage name Jay Polly, is now Rwf24 million richer after he emerged winner of Primus Guma Guma Super Star (Season 4). Sarah Kwihangana had a chat with the hip hop star.

What next after Guma Guma?

I am going to Brussels for a concert this month, and will return to focus on my music. It will look like the beginning of my career and as Tuff Gang, we are going to prove that we are the winners.

What made you stand out from the crowd?

I tried to do my best; singing well, dressing smartly and talking to the people to strengthen my connection with them. This made me more popular than the other contestants—which was actually the requirements in this competition.

I think my music also contributed because I sing about everyday life and problems people are facing in society. This has been received well by the public, making me popular.

At the beginning of the competition, did you expect to walk away with the prize?

Well, at one point I thought I would emerge winner, but again it was very hard because it was a competition. Competing against ten good artistes in the country is not a joke; and they all did their best.

But somehow I felt I would win because right from the first road show in Rusizi I was leading till the end. So deep down I started thinking that maybe, if I continued to put up good shows, I would win.

How will you spend the Rwf24 million?

Upon my return from Brussels it’s going to be like a new beginning for my music career. So, my focus is to improve Hip hop such that we can sell Rwandan music beyond Africa. I want our artistes to be international, just like you see the Nigerian artistes come to Rwanda and take our money.

I also want to see us going there and take their money. I am going to invest most of the money in music by going to good studios, making good videos with my crew and making good shows. I will also make big parties around the country thanking my fans and will use the same events to launch my fifth album.

Two Hip hop artistes have won Guma Guma in a row. Do you think that Rwandans now understand Hip hop?

Yes. In the past, people didn’t really understand the message we were conveying because we were using hard slung from the streets and ghettos.

It was really so hard, especially for the corporate class, to get our message but these days they are also starting to realize that we also capture their day to day life—because even the rich have challenges. It is hard for people to forget their past; so they have grown to like our music and I am happy that now hip hop is taking over.

Any message to your fans?

I thank them for voting me and coming to the road shows. The media also did a great job to connect me with my fans. I promise to continue giving them the best.