Guma-Guma in twist with critics
Primus Guma-Guma Super Star has seen its fair share of praise and condemnation.
The recently concluded season eight, that saw Bruce Melodie take home the Rwf20m cash prize, has left some people unhappy.
A section of people are throwing shade — again — at the organisers of the competition; musician Mico the Best and journalist David Bayingana, to name a few.
Mico was part of this year’s competition and also featured in previous editions, but his frustration with the competition grows by the day.
A while back, the singer and songwriter revealed that he would soon expose the shady dealings by the organisers.
He told local news outlets that the competition’s organisers have not been fair, highlighting that he has personally witnessed all the wrongdoings that happen behind the scenes.
He even said he was working on a book in which he would expose these shenanigans.
Bayingana, on the other hand, says that the competition has become irrelevant, and that it has never helped local musicians. Instead, he said, it has destroyed the music industry.
Organisers have not made any comments regarding this reproach, but many people on social media continue to ridicule the competition, saying that it is a money-making machine for organisers only.
***********************************************
What are Enric Sifa’s plans in Rwanda?
After seven years of living abroad, Rwandan US-based artiste Enric Sifa is in the country, we are told. Snoops say that the artiste, real name Eric Nshimiyumuremyi, arrived in Kigali with his wife this week, and travelled to Eastern Province to visit his family. Fans are excited about his visit, however, it is not yet known if he has music-related projects in the country. Word has it that he could be here to check in on his foundation that helps empower former street children in Rwanda.
***********************************************
What will Wema Sepetu’s sentence be?
A court in Tanzania is slated to sentence Wema Sepetu’s pending Marijuana case later this Friday.
The sentence had been planned for Monday but has been extended to Friday — a resident Magistrate told local media.
Thomas Simba said there were pending issues that needed to be completed before handling the case.
"I have not included a few important issues into the judgement and therefore, I adjourn the sentencing until Friday, July 20,” the resident magistrate said.
Wema Sepetu is former Miss Tanzania and the ex-girlfriend of Tanzanian singer Diamond Platnumz. The two separated bitterly and their rivalry dominated many local gossip columns in tabloids.
It was alleged that on February 4, 2017, Sepetu and her co-accused were found in possession with rolls of Bhang at Kunduchi Unonio.
Last year, Tanzanian police launched a crackdown on top celebrities after several of them were linked to drug trafficking.
***********************************************
Zari accused of stalking Diamond through children’s account
Ugandan socialite Zari Hassan has been accused of using her children Tiffah and Nillan’s Instagram accounts to stalk their father, Diamond Platnumz.
This was after the business woman took to Tiffah’s account to post a video showing the toddlers praying for their family, including the Tanzanian singer, at bedtime.
However, one fan took to the comments section to say it was in fact Zari praying for her ex through the children.
The socialite clapped back by saying prayer in her household is a lifestyle and asked him to take his negativity elsewhere.
Zari also announced that she had blocked over 300 fans from accessing her social media accounts over posting negative comments under her posts. Recently, the mother of five revealed in an interview with a Tanzanian newspaper that she transformed the Tanzanian singer into the successful man he is today. Zari says that when she met Diamond, he had no plans for the future but she encouraged him to put it into consideration and set up businesses.
***********************************************
Will Olomide’s ‘bad boy’ status be the end of him?
Popular rhumba musician Koffi Olomide has been barred from entering Zambia because of the many criminal allegations against him in the southern African country, and France.
They include allegations of assaulting a photojournalist in Zambia during a previous tour.
He has also been accused of sexually assaulting his dancers, kidnapping them and employing them without valid permits in France.
Ahead of his now-cancelled visit, Olomide — who lives in the Democratic Republic of Congo — had described Zambia as his "second home” and said he would like to perform in the country before "he dies.”
An apology from the 62-year-old singer has also been broadcast on Zambian radio.
He does not specifically address the allegations against him, but says that he loves Zambian women.
Olomide, whose real name is Antoine Christophe Agbepa Mumba, was supposed to hold two shows in Zambia this month but the government had warned he will be arrested the moment he steps foot in the country.
A few days later, the French embassy in Zambia also called for the arrest of Olomide.
Mapao, as his fans fondly refer to him, was infamously deported from Kenya in July 2016 for kicking one of his dancers at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
Olomide apologised to Kenyans for his behaviour.
But even at home, the bad boy is never far from controversies. He was in August 2012 given a three-month suspended prison sentence for assaulting his producer. The sentence followed his arrest after fracas at a hotel in Kinshasa.