The heat is evidently on, and for all the right reasons. What with the Rwf24 million cash bounty for whoever emerges winner, come August 10. If you feel that there is a particular favourite of yours that deserves this lump sum, why not log onto the PGGSS website and vote accordingly?Rusizi district in Western Province plays host to Primus Guma Guma Super Star (PGGSS) contestants today, as the competition’s road shows kick off. The artistes that made it to the final list of eleven nominees are; Knowless, Urban Boyz, Eric Senderi, Mico Prosper, Fireman, Dany Nanone, Kamichi, Christopher, Riderman, Bull Dog and Dream Boys.Performances will all be live, to cater for that carnival-like feel that is so synonymous with PGGSS music galas. Then next weekend, the road shows head to Nyamagabe district. The heat is evidently on, and for all the right reasons. What with the Rwf24 million cash bounty for whoever emerges winner, come August 10. If you feel that there is a particular favourite of yours that deserves this lump sum, why not log onto the PGGSS website and vote accordingly?The contestantsJeanne d'Arc Ingabire Butera a.k.a KnowlessThis only child from the plains of the Southern Province needs no introduction, largely courtesy of two things: her monster hit, Nzabampari, and her sexy, striking looks. The Computer Science student has been known to reserve a soft spot for the underprivileged in society, and should she carry the winner’s prize, could shock the local showbiz scene with a few random acts of philanthropy. Urban Boyz The three lads, James Manzi, Muhamed Nshimiyimana aka Nizzo, and Jaf Niyibikora make up the Urban Boyz. They have cut out their niche as a group that is comfortable singing in Kinyarwanda, English as well as Swahili, which is their major cut above their local competition. It is this that has endeared them to their large, mostly urban and teenage fanbase, and ensured that their name rings true to the music. Dream BoysAt the last season of PGGSS, Dream Boyz, asked why they needed to win the competition, stated bluntly that they wanted "to promote the group to international level”. It is the kind of ambition to be expected from a duo that boast more than average academic exposure; one half of the group, TMC, holds a Bachelor of Applied Physics degree from KIST, while Platini, the other half, is studying Journalism at the National University of Rwanda (NUR). Both hail from the DRC.Mico Prosper It was just last year that the Afrobeat star launched his debut album, Umutaka, and is the voice behind other songs like Kamwambiye, High Class, and Sinakwibagiwe, a duet with Tanzania’s Diamond. Eric SenderiSenderi is better known for being one of local artistes with the biggest number of genocide-themed songs (32 in total, he claims). He is also known for sparing no effort in canvassing for votes to be crowned PGGSS ambassador. Recently, he controversially changed his name to Eric Senderi International Hit, a move he says is to match his equally rising music career. His 2011 song, Sukura Umujyi (Clean up the City), a cleanliness campaign song he penned in honor of Kigali city’s cleanliness campaign later went on to air on CNN’s Inside Africa programme, prompting Senderi’s name change. Senderi has literally promised Rwanda’s jobless youths heaven on earth should he bag the winner’s prize, including sending hundreds to driving school. Only time will tell.KamichiHe lays claim to such songs as Aho Ruzingiye, Warambeshye and Maritha, and first captured the public’s imagination with his 2009 release, Zoubeda. This journalist turned singer is known for his large number of collaborative works with other local artistes, and draws heavily from his writing background to pen engaging lines for his songs. RidermanEmery Gatsinzi, a.k.a Riderman is the last born in a family of five, and hails from the Burundian capital, Bujumbura. Riderman is pursuing a career in Tourism Management at Rwanda Tourism University College (RTUC).Bull DogBull Dog, real names Maleq Ndayishimiye, started singing in 2007. That year, he dropped Umunsi Wimperuka, his debut single.He is a student at Kigali Institute of Education (KIE).Other contestants are Christopher, Dany Nanone and Fireman. PREVIOUS WINNERS Tom Close (2011) The first edition of the Primus Guma Guma Super Star competition was held in 2011 and the winner was Tom Close, an R&B singer.Close is right there among the best of R&B singers that the country has to offer. He was born in Masindi district of Uganda, and is one of the few medical doctors in Rwanda’s arts fraternity, having pursued medicine at the National University of Rwanda. He is the second of three children, and kicked off his music career while in P4 at Don Bosco Kimihurura church choir. When he joined secondary at Kiziguro Secondary School, he joined the Kiziguro Anglican church choir from 1999 to 2001. When he went for Bio-chemistry studies at Lycée de Kigali, he joined Prince of Peace choir of St Etienne Anglican church up to 2006. By the age of 14 he had started composing his own songs.KING JAMESJames Ruhumuriza, a.k.a King James is a born of Nyamirambo, a suburb of Kigali City. He has two albums to his name so far, Umugisha, and Umuvandimwe. The fact that he was born into a staunch Seventh Day Adventist family must have had a strong bearing on the nature of music he would later make. His music career kicked off at the Ecole APE Rugunga, where he was a student, in 2009. As a young boy, King James’ dream was to become a footballer but later got inspired by American R&B musician, Brandy, and ended up giving music a try.Intinyi, Ndatuje, Naratomboye and Nzakubona Ryari are some of his better known works. During the first ever PGGSS finale in 2011, King James emerged as 1st runners-up, in a competition that was won by Tom Close. His persistence paid off well in the subsequent competition in 2012, where he emerged winner.