He joined the Tusker Project Fame contest because of his passion for music. The youngster comes from a musical family, as his father plays the keyboard, and his cousin A.Y is a popular artist in East Africa.

Alpha Rwirangira recently made himself and Rwanda proud after winning the Tusker Project Fame season three.

The New Times’ Linda Mbabazi talked to the 23-year-old about the contest, newfame and future plans.

TNT: Did you ever think that you would be the winner of TPF3?

Alpha : I had the dream. But since Rwanda wasn’t included in the first and second seasons of Tusker Project Fame, it wasn’t possible for me.

Luckily enough, when the third season was brought to Rwanda, I joined to try my luck and to give pride to my country.

After joining, I wasn’t sure whether I would win because I didn’t know the people I was going to compete with. Also, I didn’t know whether judges would consider my talent.

Generally speaking, each one of use was talented and great in all ways. And at the end of the day the public had to decide on who should win. I really consider myself lucky to be the winner.

TNT: Who was your greatest competitor in the house?

Alpha: (laughs): There was none in  particular because all constants were good.

TNT: Who was the most scary judge on the penal?

Alpha: Actually, I had put myself in a position to think that they were judges and doing what they were supposed to do. This helped me not to be scared of any and to be more focused on my performances.

For example, if they (judges) told me that I wasn’t good, I would go back and try to improve.

TNT: Did you ever think that you would be bounced off stage?

Alpha: (signs): I could always do thorough practices before I go on stage. So, there was no any single moment I thought that I would be bounced off stage.

However, there is this nervousness one suffers before going on stage. But, the only solution is to take a deep breath, be confident and then believe in God.

TNT: When you were tasked to compose your own songs to perform on the second last week to the grand finale, how long did it take you to complete it?

Alpha: (smiles): To be honest, my song ‘One Africa’ was already composed, but it only needed to be purified. So, I didn’t have any trouble like the rest of my colleagues.

Though, I don’t think that I would have taken me a long time, because composing a song isn’t hard for me.
In my song, I urged Rwandans, East Africans and the whole world to unite.

TNT: Which girl in house did you have a crash on?

Alpha: (smiles) I didn’t have a crash on anyone because they were all like my own sisters.

TNT: What was going through your mind when you were left alone with Nganga on stage at the grand finale?

Alpha: (takes a deep breath) Waiting for the MC to announce the winner was one of the hardest moments in my life. I had prayed before we went on stage because I was desperate to win.

The moment we had all waited for had come, and I knew that either me, or Nganga had to win.

I thought to myself that if God wanted me to win, I’ll definitely win, but if it was Nganga’s chance, I would still be happy because that would have been God’s decision.

TNT: You like saluting, is it your trademark?

Alpha: It’s not my trademark. Salute is a sign of respect. So, I do it to respect people and their feelings.

TNT: What kind of musical genre are you going to concentrate on, especially now that most of your fans know you for your thrilling reggae songs?

Alpha: I will be doing reggae, R&B and Afrofusion. 

TNT: Who, among your housemates, would you wish to collaborate with if you had chance, and why?

Alpha: I would collaborate with all of them because they deserve it.

Among thousands of East Africans, those guys courageously joined TPF and competed. That means they are talented, and I would definitely wish to work with talented folks.

TNT: When are you planning to go to South Africa for the recording deal with the Gallo Records?

Alpha: I will be traveling to S. Africa in January 2010, and the deal will start immediately.

TNT: How do you plan to use your prize money?

Alpha: So far, there are very many plans, and if I started discussing them right now, I can’t finish. But, first and foremost, I’ll use it to develop myself and then kick off to other businesses later.

TNT: Whom do you intend to make your manager?

Alpha: (signs): That person is currently in Kenya, but can’t reveal her name right now because it’s still confidential. But I’ve already chosen my spokesperson Tumayine, who is my cousin brother. 

TNT: Apart from music, what else do you enjoy?

Alpha: I’m a sports fanatic, and some of my favourite games include, tennis, football, and athletics.

TNT: How do you intend to balance both you music career and education?

Alpha: Right now, I want to concentrate more on music, and then education later. I’m currently in S.6 vacation, and I guess I can join university any time.

TNT: Are you single?

Alpha: (smiles): Yes

TNT: How many are you in your family?

Alpha: We are four children, and I’m the first born.

Ends