Make way for Gogo, the new kid on the block

At around 5:30pm on October 13, during the Groove awards, the winner of the New Artiste of The Year was announced. As everyone waited to have a glimpse of the winner, strutting on stage to pick up the award was a short light skinned beauty, with a contagious smile in a flowing grey dress; it was Gloria Uwamahoro aka Gogo.Uwamahoro beat other four contestants. “We were not really in a competition, and we are all out for the same cause, to spread the gospel,” Uwamahoro said as if to imply the win was a dedication to her fellow gospel artists. Uwamahoro began her music journey while in senior one in her school’s worship team back in 2006. She later teamed up with her friends who also had passion for music to form Anointed vessels, a gospel music group.“We are still a group but this year I began working on solo projects and so far I have two tracks out complete with videos and another one on the way,” she notes.Her tracks Ndahari, Nturakizwa and Icyo Nifuza not only won her listeners’ ears but also their hearts for them to vote her as the New Artiste of The Year.“I cannot say that I expected to win outright as all other nominees in my category were very good too, but I was hopeful that I would win,” says Uwamahoro.When she is not working on her music projects, she can be found at Kigali Institute of Science and Technology, (KIST), where she is pursuing a degree in Quantity Surveying and Architecture. On how she balances the two, Uwamahoro says “school always comes first, that is not negotiable, but if you like something and have a passion for it, you will always find time for it. I have always found time to do music because I like it.”Uwamahoro is of the opinion that Gospel music stands a chance in the music industry as it reaches out to everyone and not only born again Christians, “ gospel music is growing and getting more exposure, there are more gospel events nowadays and people are keen on the style of music. To develop further we need people to realise the potential of gospel music and the talent and passion of gospel artists.”She gives credit to her family, friends and church who have been supportive all the way since she debuted in singing.On whether she would cross to the secular scene which has greener pastures, the 21-year-old has a firm stand, “secular music has never been and is not an option for me. I do music for the glory of God. I don’t do it for the money but if it comes well and good,” she adds.

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Make way for Gogo, the new kid on the block