By Stevens Muendo and Fatuma Fugicha
A day after Alpha Rwirangira was crowned the Tusker Project Fame 3 (TPF3) winner, the soft-spoken Rwandese was still coming to terms with his newfound fame and fortune.
"It hasn’t yet sunk in my head that I have won the competition. It was tough. All the finalists deserved to win. I give the glory to God," he told The Standard on Sunday.
He spoke as hundreds of voters who phoned to congratulate him and wrote on Facebook revealed that majority of his voters were ladies.
But Alpha commented: "I simply worked hard. I think my experience of singing in church and my religious upbringing gave me the upper hand," added the 23-year old who is a praise and worship leader in a Kigali church.
The Rwandese beat three other finalists to win the regional singing competition and walked away with a whopping Sh5 million cash award, besides clinching a recording deal with South Africa’s Gallo Records. The eight week competition saw 12 competitors drawn from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda battle it out in the Tusker Project Fame academy, with weekly eliminations narrowing it down to the final four who went to the wire.
Alpha Rwirangira in a pre-announcement performance. Photos: Pius Cheriot/Standard |
The finalists, anxious before the winner was announced. From left, Alpha Rwirangira, Caroline Nabulime, Patricia Kihoro and Bernard Ng’ang’a. Photos: Pius Cheriot/ Standard |
It was widely expected that Alpha would carry the day. His versatility, singing talent and electrifying performances saw him earn a massive following across the region.
On Sunday night in his final performance, Alpha hit the stage with the popular Les Wanyika’s Sina Makosa classic to a thunderous standing ovation from the crowd that had gathered at the Tusker Project Fame dome for the grand finale.
Judging from the wild reaction from enthusiastic fans, it was just a matter of time before the man from Kigali bagged the coveted award.
Waving placards
His supporters who included his father Joseph Rwirangira, a group of Rwandese friends and thousands of Kenyan fans chanted his name, waving placards which and declaring him a hero minutes before the results were announced.
Even the judges were unanimous with their verdict that Alpha, whom one judge called ‘an enigma’, was a star.
And when the moment came, the whole arena exploded in celebration after Alpha was announced the winner.
In disbelief, the first-born in a family of five broke into joyous tears and went on his knees in prayer as his fellow contestants mobbed him in congratulations.
"I can’t believe this. I thank God and my fans for making me win this contest," he said, before giving his dad a bear hug.
And joining rollicking of the night were four diplomats, among them US Ambassador to Kenya, Michael Ranneberger who had joined an array of other guests in the ceremony.
Kenya’s Bernard Ng’ang’a was the first runners-up and Uganda’s Caroline Nabulime was third. Patricia Kihoro, also from Kenya, scooped the fourth place.
Alpha said that he would use the money to buy a house and make other investments. Born in Tanzania to a Tanzanian father and a Rwandese mother, his childhood was difficult after his parents separated.
"I have never known motherly love. Even when my mother passed away in 2007, I had not seen her for years," he said.
"As a family, with my father, my three sisters and two brothers, we have not always had an easy sail. However, challenges have taught me how to persevere and capitalise on every opportunity that comes my way," he noted.
After the family moved from Tanzania, Alpha was enrolled in a boarding primary school in Kisumu, where he spent most of his school life before moving back to Rwanda.
His father, who is the head of the Nile Basin in Rwanda gave him a free will to choose what path he wanted to follow in life and did not oppose his participation in the regional reality TV music show.
Music star
"Tanzania’s music star AY is my cousin. His mum is my father’s sister. I think music runs in our blood," he revealed.
"I want to pursue music. I want to leave a legacy. Right now, I am thinking of working with continental stars like Eric Wainaina, Juliana Kanyamozi and Nazizi. Besides reggae which is my favourite genre, I would also want to try R and B," he said.
He is also looking forward to working with groups that advocate for children rights.
"Life back in my country is tough, I hate to watch human suffering and I want to preach peace among the youth," he said.
