NEW and upcoming gospel artistes showcased their talents at the Rise and Shine World Gospel Talent Hunt Competition dubbed "Ugendane Nanjye”, and winners were awarded on April 16 during an Easter Gala Dinner that took place in Kigali.

The competition was officially launched in mid-March with 25 contestants who were under two categories; up-coming artistes who already had released gospel songs, and new gospel artistes. 

As the competition progressed, some contestants withdrew and only 20 got to the final. During the gala dinner that took place at Baoba Hotel in Nyamirambo, the winners who were awarded were three in each category, making it a total of six. Prior to announcing the winners, certificates of appreciation were given to the event organisers, sponsors of the event, journalists, contestants and the judges. The judges included some big names in the gospel industry; Peace Hoziane, Annette Murava, Joshua Shimwa and Macrine Kangabe.

Among the new artistes, the winners were Sandrine Uwumuhoza who received a cash prize of Rwf 300,000. The 1st runner-up was duo of Desire Niyonkuru and Vumilia Niyihoza who received Rwf 100,000, while the 2nd runner-up, Emmanuel Niringiyimana, received Rwf 50,000.

In the upcoming gospel artistes’ category, the winner, Chance Christopher Twizerimana, was awarded Rwf 300,000 cash prize, the 1st runner-up Esperance Nyiranzabonimpa received Rwf 200,000 and the 2nd runner-up Claudine Giramahoro got Rwf 50,000. 

"I am so overwhelmed with joy because of this well-deserved victory. This is a big achievement for me after a long and difficult journey. I have been keeping loads of Godly messages and I am going to start ministering, starting from a song that Rise and Shine World Ministry will help me do,” Uwumuhoza told The New Times.

Uwumuhoza expressed her gratitude to everyone who has been supportive to her, especially her mother who encouraged her a lot. "I am so thankful to Bishop Alain

Justin who thought of helping talented singers to highlight their careers. May God bless him abundantly.”

She revealed that there is no secret that helped her win this, except God.

However, she added that she prayed hard and tried all she could to deliver the best in terms of performance. She is a student, doing tailoring and lives in Kimisagara.

Chance Christopher Twizerimana said that the competition was not easy at all since all the contestants were so talented and he was intimidated by them all. "It was so hard and I didn’t expect to win this. There is no secret that I used, it is all God’s grace. I am so thankful to RSW for the initiative to support talents in the gospel industry and all the sponsors,” said Twizerimana.

He shared that he has been in gospel choirs since childhood singing in Sunday

School and later joined the adult church choirs. He has one song dubbed ‘Untware Yesu’ and some collabos with Gisubizo Ministries, and now is happy that with the cash prize he received, he will manage to do some more songs. 

Bishop Alain Justin told this publication that apart from the Rwf 1m cash prize, they will cover the cost of song productions of the first winners in both categories.

When asked about the contestants who didn’t make it to the top six, he replied, "We are not parting ways, they are also talented, and for that we will stay in touch and help them still; be it with advice or any other possible way.”

The 1st runner-up in the new artistes Vumilia Niyihoza and Desire Niyonkuru.

All contestants singing ‘Ugendane Nanjye’.  

Claudine Giramahoro, the 2nd runner-up in upcoming artistes category.

The judges: Joshua Shima, Annette Murava, Peace Hoziana and Macrine Kangabe.