Six Rwandan gospel artistes have been selected to participate in the 2013 Groove Awards.The nominees for the 29 categories for this year’s Groove Awards with Safaricom were announced at the National Museum, Nairobi on May 7, while the Groove Awards ceremony will take place on June 1. The competition attracts various gospel artistes from Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan and Kenya.Gaby Kamanzi, Alphonse Bahati, Théo Uwiringiyimana alias Bosebabireba, Tonzi, Lillian Kabaganza and Patient Bizimana are the nominees for  the ‘Best Rwandan Gospel Artiste’ category. It is the eighth edition of the annual gospel awards ceremony sponsored by Safaricom and the fourth time that Rwanda has participated. "Fans across East Africa will select one artiste among the six artistes we have nominated, and the winner will be announced on June 1,” said Eric Mugisha, the founder of Moriah Entertainment Group, which is the co-organisers of the contest. In 2010, when Rwanda first participated, The Blessed Sisters, Gaby, Aline Gahongayire, Phanny and Tonzi were the nominees. The blessed Sisters and Eddie Mico are past winners of ‘Best Rwandan Gospel Artiste’.Since its inception in 2004, over 600 artistes/groups have been nominated and over 100 Groove statuettes presented to musicians in Kenya and the East African region in general. The Groove Awards has played a significant role in supporting, promoting and indeed raising the profiles of some of the biggest names in gospel music today.