BEHIND JASMINE KIBATEGA’S win and bubbly character is an incredible and inspirational story about her musical journey. Seven years ago, Kibatega was a karaoke performer in various bars across Kigali, but today, the 26-year-old is the winner of the first season of ‘The Next Popstar’, a music contest that concluded last week at Kigali Arena. Those who know the hurdles of performing in bars can easily understand that Kibatega’s journey has never been easy from the very beginning. In fact, if not for her love and passion for music, she could have quit the trade a long time ago. Kibatega shared that singing karaoke started shortly after she completed high school back in 2014 but, for a girl her age, kicking off a music career in bars is always challenging and she was no exception. “I had to control myself because I had a vision, I had a dream and, from there, I always thought that singing in bars…it’s for my exposure. I am exposing myself so that maybe any opportunity could come about. It was challenging, but I am grateful because I am here now,” she added. Her love for music came about when Kibatega was at a tender age. She would always dance whenever a song was playing in the background. Her passion and inspiration for becoming a musician, however, started when high school friends admired her voice when she sang for a schoolmate on her birthday. The singer during the interview at The New Times’ offices. Photo by Olivier Mugwiza “One of my friends had a birthday and was like ‘sing for us’… then I started singing. Everybody was blown away and was like, “You have a beautiful voice,” recalls Kibatega. “And I started to build the passion and love for music from then till this day. I started developing that love, that passion, and that was the only thing I could do,” she added. Kibatega performing at competion with first runner up Ish Kevin before she was awarded as the winner. Before introducing herself to music, especially karaoke, Kibatega informed her mother of the idea as she sought advice for her next course of action. “I was like ‘mum, I really want to be a singer, I really want to follow a career as a singer. And she was saying, ‘Are you sure? How about school?’ you know how parents can be sometimes (laughs). But she was right!” the singer recalls. “It was not hard (to convince her) because we have a strong connection. She’s everything to me, she’s my friend, and she is always there for me. Every time I wanted to do something, she was like, Go for it, get your own experience, and, from there, I will help you decide if you carry on or do something else. So for that, I am grateful to have her, it’s incredible, she is amazing,” she said of her mother. The artiste with her mother after being announced winner. Despite the passion and trying to help everyone at bars have fun, Kibatega decided to quit performing karaoke in bars in 2018 as she was only earning peanuts. However, in 2019, she reconsidered and kicked off from where she left off after realizing that her life belonged to music. “I remember, most of the time, I wasn’t even paid. It was tough but I’ve learned a lot from it, grown so much from it, and… look at me now!” she excitedly said. Her journey of singing in bars came to an end in 2020 when Kibatega heard of ‘The Next Popstar’ music contest and after winning the contest, the singer has no plans of looking behind. “It’s now over. That was a lesson, an experience, but I want to write another chapter in my music,” she said. Winning ‘The Next Popstar’ Kibatega had no idea that ‘The Next Popstar’ was going to happen until a friend encouraged her to take part in the music contest. However, she hesitated. “From the very beginning, I didn’t believe in ‘The Next Popstar’ because I didn’t think that in Rwanda we had that kind of talent competition happening. But she kept pushing me to audition for it,” she recalls. She enrolled among over a thousand aspirants who registered to contest and she came out the winner of the contest, overcoming stiff competition from rapper Ish Kevin and four other finalists. Upon winning the contest, Kibatega walked away with a whopping Rwf10 million cash prize, while the rest of the money will be spent on the production of her songs at either local or foreign music studios. The singer described the journey to winning the music contest as ‘so difficult’ but with her mother’s presence, she was always ready to make her proud. “Every time that they had to pick some people from a certain round, it was always a privilege for me because it built me up even stronger, more confident, and even believing in myself,” she said. “My mum and my best friend, Peter, were around, and to be surrounded by that kind of love and support made me feel like I was going to win,” she added. For the singer, winning the contest has opened room for her to write a new chapter in music by building a new career and doing her own music. “To be honest, I am grateful for the past, but I feel like God has leveled me up to the extent that I can’t go down again. That’s an experience, a part of my past, and a part of who I am because it’s a part of who I am now. This is a new beginning, and I am ready for a new challenge,” she said. Apart from recording a number of music projects under the support of her sponsors, the singer revealed that she already has some projects in the pipeline as she looks forward to using ‘The Next Popstar’ platform to build her career and name as an artist. Kibatega gets inspiration from Whitney Houston, and the love she has for the American singer made her perform the majority of her songs during the music contest.
