THE race to be Primus Guma Guma Superstar (PGGSS) has moved a notch higher. In the first round, musical professionals selected the 20 most talented musicians from different music genres. Now, it is your turn to choose your favourite contestants from the 20 nominees –voting starts from Monday, February 20, 2012.From then on, you will be encouraged to vote via SMS and Internet, as all the 20 contestants in their respective categories tussle it out for the title. The contestants with the highest votes will be considered as the 10 finalists, while the title will go to the Top winner.The 10 finalists, who will be announced on March 17, will receive Rwf500,000, each as a token of appreciation from the organisers – Bralirwa, the largest alcoholic and soft beverages company in Rwanda, and East Africa Promoters. From April to July, each contestant is expected to receive Rwf1million, every month, to facilitate them during the competition.The event to announce the Primus Guma Guma Superstar winner is slated for July 28, at Amahoro Stadium; it will be graced by an internationally renowned musician.The star will take home whopping prizes, including a recording and promotion deal besides recording a song and its video with an international star.Last year, Primus Guma Guma Superstar was won by R&B singer Tom Close, who recently released his song "Good Time Tonight” featuring Jamaican-American singer Sean Kingston.Below are the contestants and their voting codes:Elion (1)Bull Dogg (2)Urban Boys (3)The Brothers (4)Emmy (5)Rafiki (6)Knowles (7)Riderman (8)Kamichi (9)Jay Polly (10)Dream Boys (11)Just Family (12)Odda Paccy (13)King James (14)Young Grace (15)Danny Nanone (16)Jozy (17)Uncle Austin (18)Naason (19)Nyamitari Patrick (20)Speaking to The New Times, Joseph Mushyoma said that Kitoko, Mani Martin and Miss JoJo, who were initially nominated in the categories of Afro-beat, R&B and Female Artistes, pulled out of the competition voluntarily and were replaced by other contestants in the same categories, according to the voting order.   "Kitoko was replaced by Elion, Mani Martin with Naason and Miss JoJo with Jozy, after Shanel had told us that she was busy with other commitments,” Mushyoma mentioned.Primus Brand Manager at Bralirwa, Jean Pierre Uwizeye said that the organisers of the music competition had to respect the artistes’ choice to participate, or pull out of the competition.‘As the organisers of Primus Guma Guma Superstar competition, we respect the artistes’ choices. If a nominee wished to pullout from the competition, we cannot stop them, because it’s their right to participate, or not,” Uwizeye said during a press conference, held in Kigali yesterday.