Local music inventor and artiste Jean Paul Nduwimana, commonly known by his stage name Noopja, Gakondo music singer Sophie Nzayisenga, and rapper Angell Mutoni emerged winners in the inaugural African Music Academy Awards (AMA Awards) on Thursday, June 20.
The Rwandan artistes are among six regional creatives chosen from a pool of 72 candidates selected on March 31 by the Academy’s representatives from various music professions to participate in this event's first edition.
Mutoni won Best Song Composer, Noopja won Best Music Producer, while Nzayisenga won Best Musician. Thasi Ponda from DR Congo, Benin’s Petit Miguelito, and Liliana Escobar were also honoured at the award ceremony.
According to a statement from the African Music Academy, the awards will be personally handed over to each of the winners by national delegates of the Academy.
ALSO READ: Burundian artists nominated for 'Isango na Muzika' awards
Noopja describes the AMA Awards as a great honour and motivation for his music career and a source of pride for Rwanda, a country that has played a pivotal role in transforming the creative industry.
"It is a big step for us when Africa recognises our work. The big dream I have now is to go beyond Africa and take over the world. We are ready to do what has never been done before in the Rwandan music industry,” he said.
ALSO READ: Trace Awards: Kagame meets winners, lauds creative industry
Asked why he won in the best producer category when "he is not known in music production”, Noopja said, "The award is more than producing music, it is about recognising those who have paved the way for music creators and shaped the next big stars of Africa.”
"Supporting artistes, giving them opportunities, helping a lot of talented young people to find their dream is the essence of my journey. And the journey continues,” Noopja, Founder and CEO of Country Records, added.
This is not the first time Country Records has scooped a big award, last time it won Best Music Studio at the East Africa Music & Entertainment Awards while KOZZE, the in-house producer of the studio, won Best Music Producer of Excellence.
Founded in 2014, the African Music Academy (AMA) aims to promote pan-African music from the continent and the diaspora through education, professional outreach, and special awards. Its founding members include Angélique Kidjo, Chris Blackwell, Wally Badarou, Jean-Noël Tronc, Blick Bassy, and the late Manu Dibango.
Its board of directors includes the president of the African Music Academy, Wally Badarou, Blick Bassy, Solagne Cesarovna, and Nato Seck.