Rwanda’s leading rapper and Primus Guma Guma SuperStar season two finalist, Jay Polly is organising the hip-hop music awards that will not only recognise local artistes but also hip-hop musicians in the Eastern Africa region.

Speaking to The New Times yesterday, Jay Polly noted that he was working tirelessly together with his Tuff Gang crew to make sure that the two-day event set for July becomes the talk of the nation.

The Ndacyariho star expressed confidence and excitement that the event, which is the first of its kind, will  be big and glamorous.

"I realised that hip-hop artistes are not recognised, despite their efforts to improve the music scene and the great messages in their music.

That’s why I decided to organise this event to recognise hip-hop artistes in Rwanda and in the region,” Jay Polly said. 

The singer, who is also the MTN Rwanda ambassador, revealed that the event  will be sponsored by MTN Rwanda and Bralirwa Ltd among other sponsors.

About Jay Polly

Joshua Polly Tuyishime, better known by his stage name Jay Polly, first gained fame as a hip-hop artiste in 2008 and delivered hits such as Iwacu, Mwami Uganje and Hisha mu Nda, You and Me, to mention a few.

Since then, he has gone on to do more great hits and collaborations with several local artistes, like Princess Pricilla and Bruce Melody among others. 

He is among the few local artistes who have shared a stage with internationally renowned artistes, such as Koffi Olomide, Jason Derulo, D’banj, Lauryn Hill, Shaggy and Sean Kingston, among others.

Born on July 5, 1988 in Gikondo, a city suburb in Kigali, Jay Polly is also a prolific visual artist, having started painting at a tender age of five using illustration books. 

He has over 24 singles to his name and two albums. He has won Salax and Ijoro ry’Urukundo Music awards as Best Hip-Hop Artiste. He has been nominated for regional music awards, such as PAM Awards in the past.