Daniel Trust Foundation, a non-profit, has organised a digital music challenge competition that started on August 6, with the aim to support Rwandan talented youth.
Trust Daniel, a social entrepreneur and organiser of the Daniel Trust Music Challenge told The New Times that this is a digital singing competition that is open to all youth aged between 18-35 years old.
When asked why they decided to organise such a competition; Trust replied, "Daniel Trust Foundation which a non-profit organisation normally supports young people in the United States and Rwanda. We wanted to give Rwandan youth the opportunity to showcase their music talent to the world and to help them launch their music careers as well. Digital platforms are the only possible way to reach them due to some barriers including Covid-19 where social gatherings are prohibited.”
This is the second time that this competition is happening. The first edition took place in 2020 after organisers found out that there was lack of innovative talent development programs that give youth the opportunity to develop and grow their skills and talents. The Daniel Trust Music Challenge came in as the solution with the hope to inspire other organisations and businesses to invest in youth. Last year’s winners were awarded with prizes worth Rwf1,000,000.
"This year since we are only focusing on music, we promise to award the top 3 winners. The first will receive Rwf1,000,000 cash prize. The first runner-up will get Rwf650, 000 cash prize and the second runner-up of the competition will receive a Rwf350,000 cash prize.”
To enter the competition, contestants must record a 1-minute video showcasing their music talent and post the video on their public Instagram account using the #DanielTrustMusicChallenge hashtag and the contestants must tag all the 3 judges who are Kaya Byinshii, Arnaud Gray and Rluta who all are the Alumni of the 2020 Daniel Trust Challenge.
The three-member jury will look at each of contestant’s growth potential, creativity, views, likes and the engagement that each contestant has with his/her followers in the comments of the video.
More about the Judges
Arnaud Shema, a.k.a Arnaud Gray was one of the 2020 Daniel Trust Challenge contestants and he finished as the winner of the competition and now a judge in the second edition.
"I was so overwhelmed by joy and I feel happy and proud to give back to the community of talented youth as a judge. I wish them to be more creative since that was my uniqueness which made me the outstanding contestant last year,” he told The New Times.
The ‘International’ and ‘Cyaze’ hits maker, also featured in ‘Umugabo’ original song that was later remixed.
He encouraged the participants to be more creative, present their craft well and take the competition.
Born Alice Rambert Rutayisire, Rluta was the first runner-up in the 2020 Trust Daniel Challenge and now is one of the judges. She shared her experience.
"I attended last year’s competition with no vision of doing music, but I later decided to be a musician, because of the motivation I got from the competition. I love discovering new talents and I strongly believe that this will help talented youth to showcase their talents too.”
Rluta added that being the judge in the competition she once participated in, is such an honour for her and an inspiration to other youth. After attending the last year competition, she started her music career professionally and she released a cover of ‘Hurt’ and did her first song dubbed ‘No Body Else’.
Kaya Byinshii who is under the management of ‘Green Ferry Music Label’, was the second runner-up in the 2020 competition. She expressed how it is a privilege to be one of the judges.
"It is not only an honour, but also a privilege which means more than just being a judge to me. It feels like I am finally going to take part in boosting and showing Rwandan talents to the world.”
The ‘5AM’ hit maker told The New Times that last year she really had the talent, but with less creativity, which is why she reminds this year’s participant to be more vigilant and creative.
She released her seven-song Extended Play ‘Nyabyinshi’ after the Daniel Trust Challenge first edition and the song she did with Bushali, ‘Ibyejo’ was a hit. Kaya said that the last year’s competition showed her that Rwandan youth are so talented and only lack some exposure which is why she called on investors to look into the potential that the youth have.