Yvan Buravan wins Prix Découvertes RFI 2018 contest

Rwandan singer Yvan Buravan has emerged winner of the Prix Découvertes RFI 2018 contest, an annual competition involving artistes from across Africa. The competition started on September 24 and the winner was announced yesterday, Nov. 8th. Buravan is expected to travel to Paris, France to receive his award. The ‘Garagaza’ crooner could not be reached for comment by press time. But reacting to the news on Thursday evening, he wrote on his Twitter page: “Thank you very much to you all #RwOT(Rwandans on Twitter), this is just the beginning...Rwanda had to wait 38 years to win the @Prixdecouvertes..#historyinthemaking.” #onestensemble ?????? merci beaucoup a vous tous #RwOT ce nest que le début... le rwanda a du attendre 38ans pour gagner le @Prixdecouvertes ????#historyinthemaking ???????? — Yvan Buravan (@buravan250) November 8, 2018 Buravan is the first Rwandan artiste to win the award. He was nominated alongside Guinea’s Azaya; Barakina, from Niger; Republic of Congo’s Biz Ice; Gasha, of Cameroon, Haiti’s Geraldo; Iyenga, from DR Congo; Togo’s Ozane, and Senegal’s Maabo and OMG. This year’s Prix Découvertes RFI awards were determined by a panel of music experts including Charlotte Dipanda, Juliette Fievet, Claudy Siar, Amobe Mevegue, and DJ Face Maker. Notre laureat 2018 @buravan250 #felicitations #congratulations #rwanda #music #africa #afrique #urban #rnb #soul #prixdexouvertesrfi pic.twitter.com/Q2JqQjmN3a — Prix Découvertes RFI (@Prixdecouvertes) November 8, 2018 For his achievement, Buravan will be awarded 10,000 Euros, and will be facilitated to do a music tour across Africa, and one in Paris. Other Rwandan artistes who have previously participated in the same competition include Mani Martin in 2013 as well as The Ben and Angel Mutoni in 2016. About Buravan Arguably the fastest rising local R&B star at the moment, Yvan Dushime Burabyo, better known as Yvan Buravan, is a singer, songwriter and guitarist. His potential first came to the limelight in 2009 during the ‘Rwandatel Jingle Contest’, a local countrywide music talent search, which he won. He was only 14 then, and decided to first complete school before he could venture into music as a career. In 2015, he released his debut ‘Injyana’, a single featuring Gabby Umutare. He went ahead and released several other hits, including ‘Malaika’, a track that has captured the attention of music lovers not only in Rwanda, but also beyond. His other singles include ‘Bindimo’, ‘Majunda’ and ‘Urwo Ngukunda,’, ‘Just A Dance’ featuring Tanzania singer AY, and his latest ‘Si Belle.’ Recently, he recorded a cover of Nerea, a song by Kenya’s music band Sauti Sol. The video went viral. He is the last born in the family of six; five boys and a girl, and born to Michel Burabyo and Elisabeth Uwikunda. Buravan went to Ecole La Colombière and Le Petit Prince for his primary and secondary school studies, respectively. He also attended University of Rwanda’s College of Business and Economics. The 23-year-old says he was influenced by American Grammy-winning singer Bruno Mars, and English singer/record producer Ed Sheeran, among others. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Yvan Buravan wins Prix Découvertes RFI 2018 contest