After their popular hit "Arasharamye”, a song that captured a lot of attention of the local and regional airwaves, the Kigali Boyz Group (KGB) has signed a collaborating deal with MTN Rwanda, a mega telecommunications company in Rwanda.

KGB is a music band consisting of three teenage boys. According to one of the band members, Gaston Rurangwa, a.k.a Mr Skizzy, who is also presents Contact, 89.7 FM, one of Kigali’s most listened to radio stations, the band started way back in 2004. It has released one album and seven singles.

In 2007, KGB was awarded as the "Best Group band from Rwanda”, during the PAM Awards.

"I think it was a good idea for KGB’s to secure a collaborating deal with the MTN,” said Albert Rudatsimburwa, the Manager of Contact FM.

Rudatsimburwa added that, as always, MTN has a tendency of supporting the cultural sector, which includes the sports, but paying back to the society is on its agenda.
However, Rudatsimburwa, believes that the KGB’s collaborating deal with MTN is a win-win situation, because each party expects a profit from the other. The slang used in song also became popular as it describes the handset now known on the street as ‘Karasharamye.’

Rudatsimburwa says the idea behind this deal wasn’t that MTN simply wanted to promote the band’s music, but because the company had identified the potential from the vibrant teenagers, prompting it to gain the courtesy to collaborate with them.

To emphasis his point, Mr Rudatsimburwa cited an example that Michael Jackson didn’t approach the Pepsi Cola to sponsor him, but the company spotted his potential to sing and requested to collaborate with him.

Under its continuous support to the local the artists, Amin Gafaranga, the Business Development Manager, says MTN provides numerous opportunities to local artists to explore their talents and gain fame.

For instance, MTN initiated an annual music dance festival, called "Tuwukate”, which is meant to create a positive platform for musicians to exploit their talents and meet their dreams of becoming popular in the society.

"We [MTN] emphasis more on cultural and social activities, such as music and sports, and education…because we believe they can easily create a positive change to the society’s development,” said Mr Gafaranga. The collaboration between MTN Rwanda and KGB, which is valid from August, will expire on January 1.  

Mr Gafaranga added that the company is aiming to cooperate with the band, and in the course of their mandate, the band is scheduled to have several tours in all parts of the country, and also stage numerous concerts, but to also help the band gain more opularity.

"We don’t intend to stop on the KGB, but the company is also intending to support the entire local music industry to greater heights,” promised Mr Gafaranga.

Mr Skizzy says that the band was not just excited to collaborate with MTN, but rather surprised, because it was their fame that made them get recognized, and which the band is intending to maintain.

"Like other serious musicians, our band has set a vision to work harder and compete with international vocals,” said Skuzzy.

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