"Tusker Project Fame” is here, for the very first time. On the table is the promise of fame and the commitment to add one more music star on the regional music scene.

More than 30 hopefuls turned up on the first day of auditions but just three lucky ones will travel to Kenya. There, they’ll find other regional contestants vying for the top spot in the show.

Producer Heidi Ugs said "Many aspiring artists come to the show in search of fame, to become stars. After eight weeks in the Tusker Academy, indeed the winner becomes the newest upcoming music artist and a star.”

According to Heidi, the show will not only add Rwanda onto the map of music fame but will also give face to the promising music talent in the country.

"The country might be small but during the auditions, we have met so much talent and passion which we hope to welcome into the show.”

The budding stars’ names will be kept secret until the end of this week. After eight weeks of mentorship and skills polishing, the three Rwandans will walk away with not just fame but a career.

Though the show crowns only one, the truth is everyone who goes into the show will have hit the spotlight of the music industry. The 12 selected housemates, mid this month, will be on 24 hour camera coverage that will be broadcasted on TV stations.

The contestants will thus be accorded a daily audience of millions of East Africa fans hence ensuring them a fan base in the whole region
The fact that Rwanda has a stake in the show goes on to show that time has come for Rwanda to partake its share on the regional music table.

"The show will go a long way in harnessing development of music and in putting Rwandan music on the regional map. The show will also inspire talent amongst the youth hence opening up more possibilities for Rwanda’s music industry,” East Africa Breweries Regional Manager Paul Byamugisha told the press.

This competition entails more than just voice and talent. It includes all aspects of being a star such as dressing style, hair style, personality, and attitude. It’s a challenge of what it takes to be a star.

The task ahead for the contestants therefore is not only to sing well but also to seduce the audience into voting for them and keeping them in the house.

The winner will walk away with not only Rwf 40,000,000, but also chance to record an album with one of the biggest recording companies in African, Gallo.

Gallo, according to reports, owns more than 75 per cent of all recordings ever produced in South Africa by artists such as Lucky Dube and Miriam Makeba.

Among the judges is local music star Miss Shanel and Flash FM’s Jean Pierre. Miss Shanel advised Rwandan musicians to produce Swahili and English songs in order to tap into the regional music industry.

The show which is running for the third time is sponsored by East Africa Breweries. Valarie Kimani of Kenya and Esther Nabaasa of Uganda are the past winners.

Kimani won the first Project Fame show and Nabaasa the second with their respective debut albums, "Baskeli” and "The body” both recorded in Gallo studios doing well in the region and enjoying tremendous airplay.

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