It has been a good week for Rwanda’s entertainment industry and here we are for it.

It’s been a weekend of new developments which are encouraging for the Rwandan music industry, especially when the Recording Academy, an organization behind the Grammy Awards, announced a global expansion plan to support music creators in different African countries including Rwanda.

Meanwhile, local comedian Sam Zuby was braced to learn that his bid for a parliamentary seat has finally been given the nod after he got the document that was missing.

With these and more, The New Times highlights stories that made headlines in local entertainment industry over the week.

Grammy’s Recording Academy announces operations in Rwanda

Recording Academy, an American learned academy of musicians, producers, recording engineers, and other musical professionals, which is behind the Grammy Awards, announced global expansion plan to support music creators in different African countries and Middle East, including Rwanda.

The initiative aims to provide educational resources, advocate for intellectual property rights, and celebrate the musical heritage of these regions, the Recording Academy said in a statement on June 11.

ALSO READ: Grammy’s Recording Academy to expand operations in Rwanda

To make the expansions possible, Recording Academy partnered with government ministries and cultural entities in Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Memoranda of Understanding with Ghana and Ivory Coast.

Sam Zuby approved to run for parliamentary seat

Comedian Sam Zuby was released on the final list of 31candidates qualified to run for the two youth seats which are up for grabs in parliament ahead of July polls.

The comedian was approved by the National Electoral Commission (NEC) after submitting a legal medical certificate that prevented him from appearing on the provisional list that was published on June 7, 2024.

ALSO READ: Elections: Comedian, 26, eyes seat in parliament

June 14, NEC announced the final list of 589 candidates out of 665 that had applied for parliamentary seats in July elections.

Ish Kevin drops new EP, denies feud with Zeo Trap

Rwandan rapper Ish Kevin last week dropped his long awaited EP named after his last name ‘Semana’.

The rapper, who is also the brains behind Trappish Records, released a new Extended Play amid rumors that he is at loggerheads with Zeo Trap, another upcoming rapper.

After dropping the four-track project, Ish Kevin denied reports that have been floating social media indicating that he is beefing Zeo Trap, saying that the EP isn’t intended to hit back to the rapper’s recent diss track ‘Sinabyaye’ in which he insults the ‘Amakosi’ hitmaker.

The EP hold hit tracks including ‘Iki’ and ‘Bezos’ among others.