All roads lead to Gicumbi District as the eighth edition of the Primus Guma-Guma Super Star (PGGSS) music competition kicks off this afternoon.
The artistes contesting for this year’s edition were announced on March 14.
Primus Guma-Guma Super Star is the country’s premier music contest. The annual event is organised by East African Promoters and sponsored by Bralirwa, the country’s main brewer.
In the running this year are first timers Jay C, Uncle Austin and Khalfan. Just Family, Christopher, Young Grace, Bruce Melodie, Active, Mico the Best and Queen Cha, who participated in previous editions, will be giving the competition another try in the hope of clinching the grand prize.
"I am ready for the competition 99 per cent. One per cent goes for the sound and unexpected extra interruptions,” said Bruce Melodie.
On his part, Jay C, born Jean Claude Muhire, said he has all it takes to win this edition. "We have equal chances to win the contest because we will be judged according to our performances and how we impress the audiences and the judges,” the upcoming singer said.
Lion Imanzi, Aimable Twahirwa and Tonzi will return as judges, with Sylvie Ingabire and Buryohe as the show’s hosts.
How to vote
The voting process, however, has changed with 100% of the votes coming from the jury, and a special cash prize of Rwf15 million from the public voting.
Fans will vote for their favourite contestant by dialing *733*, add the number of the contestant, followed by #, before entering the code of the Primus bottle top.
The contestants were given numbers in the alphabetical order; Active (1), Bruce Melodie (2), Christopher (3), Jay C (4), Just Family (5), Khalfan (6), Mico the Best (7), Queen Cha (8), Uncle Austin (9), and Young Grace (10).
Joseph Mushyoma, the chief executive of East African Promoters, said everyone is allowed to vote.
"The new voting procedure was thought of to improve transparency. Now anyone can both enjoy Primus and use the code of the bottle top to support their artistes,” he said.
The overall winner will take home Rwf20 million, while the first runner-up will get Rwf4.5 million, with the second runner-up taking home Rwf4 million, third runner-up Rwf3.5 million, and fourth runner-up Rwf3 million.
This year’s PGGSS will have four road shows (outside Kigali) down from 8 previously. The full schedule of the countrywide PGGSS tour is as follows: May 26: Gicumbi (Northern Province) June 2: Musanze District (Western Province) June 16: Huye District (Southern Province) June 30: Rubavu (Western Province) July 14: Kigali (Grand finale)
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