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K8 defied court order to pay fine for music piracy It has been four years since Rwandan rapper K8 Kavuyo was asked by a court to pay Rwf6.5 million to local traditional singer, Antoine Mupenzi, after he was accused of music plagiarism. Mupenzi, who is based in Musanze District in the Northern Province, filed a lawsuit claiming K8’s ‘Acapella’ track bore heavy resemblance to, or was inspired by, his ‘Igishakamba’. The Nyarugenge intermediate court ruled to block further distribution, sale, and performances of ‘Acapella’, and the rapper was asked to pay Rwf6.5 million in compensation. Instead, the singer headed to the United States where he’s based today. Recently, during a campaign on Intellectual Property Awareness by Rwanda Development Board (RDB), Mupenzi revealed that the rapper ‘copied his song’ and refused to pay him the money as ordered by court. The singer says that he is yet to hear from the rapper and is counting on the government for help. Watch out Davido, Diamond — Eddy Kenzo fans Love or hate him, the world has a way of favouring Ugandan singer Eddy Kenzo. The Jubilation star has added a Nickelodeon Kids Choice award to his shelf of accolades. The awards which were held on March 24 saw Kenzo, real name Edrisa Musuuza, walk away with the award for Favourite African Star, beating off stiff competition from South Africans, the rapper Cassper Nyovest and athlete Caster Semenya, Nigerian entertainers Davido and child comedian Emmanuella (Nigeria), and Tanzania’s Diamond Platnumz. The artiste also won the ‘Best African Entertainer’ at the International Reggae and World Music Awards last week. ‘‘Congratulations Uganda, Congratulations East Africa, Congratulations Africa, Congratulations Eddy Kenzo. Team Eddy Kenzo, we did it. I’m speechless,” Kenzo posted on his official social media platforms. Fans of the artiste are thrilled, with many mentioning that Kenzo is a force to reckon with in the East African region and beyond. Rwandan model claims ‘Kigali International Fashion Week’ is a stolen concept A Rwandanmodel and actress based in the US has dragged John Bunyeshuli, the brains behind ‘Kigali Fashion Week’ over allegedly stealing her fashion concept. Kigali Fashion Week has been held in Rwanda for six years, and last year, the organisers took it a notch higher and announced that they were rebranding it to “Kigali International Fashion Week” — with intentions to stage shows abroad — after securing partnership with an investment firm. The organisers went ahead to hold shows in Europe this year, but little did we know that there were ‘fights’ going on behind the scenes between the organisers and Belle Oceanne Iradukunda, who claims that she initially approached them and proposed a similar concept long before it was put into action. Iradukunda took to Twitter with screenshots of conversations she held with Bunyeshuli, who later blocked her. She said in a tweet that she has been busy shooting movies and only found out about it through close friends who knew about the project and were sending her links of a similar project being pursued. Well, we haven’t been able to get all the information about what really happened, but we are following this one. We shall keep you updated. Will Rick Ross perform in Kenya? American rapper and entrepreneur Rick Ross has been rumoured to be visiting the region soon. We are told that the artiste might stage a concert in Kenya in the coming weeks at the Carnivore Grounds. However, that is all it is for now, speculation. If so, this will be Ross’ first trip to the country, and the speculated visit comes weeks after other rumours of a fall-out with Tanzanian superstar Diamond Platnumz who recently launched his album, The Boy from Tandale. There were rumours of a rift between Ross and Diamond, with reports indicating that Ross had deleted all photos of Diamond from his Instagram page and had gone an extra length by refusing to promote their single Waka Waka. Diamond, however, came out to ‘clear the air’ saying that there was no bad blood between him and the American artiste. Ross’ trip to Kenya also comes weeks after the rapper was hospitalised for an unknown illness with fans worried about his well-being. Kidum asks for prayers after being ‘poisoned NimbonaJean Pierre, better known as Kidum, is appealing for prayers after a poisoning incident that took place in his home country of Burundi where he was hospitalised. On his way back to Kenya the artiste was not allowed to travel due to his condition which needed serious medical attention. Taking to his social media pages, he broke the news that left many bewildered. He revealed that his life was in danger and that his enemies were behind his predicament, but that whoever wanted to kill him had targeted the wrong person. Kidum, however, revealed he was not afraid of dying because even if he did, more talented people will replace him and continue his mission. It is said that Kidum’s kidneys were affected by the poison. ’I was about to be discharged but the hospital has just reversed that decision because they have just discovered that the poison has spoilt my kidneys. Pray for me. My enemies have to be defeated by your prayers. Yesterday I was discharged but the officials of Kenya Airways decided not to let me travel because of my condition. So I was brought back to hospital and now I am not allowed to go. I am in this hospital to stay the way I see it,’’ he posted. However, we are told that the artiste was finally discharged from hospital.

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