Held in Nairobi, Kenya, on Sunday, April 14, the awarding ceremony honoured the rich and diverse talents within the East African region. And Rwanda paragoned. At least 5 celebrities from the thousand hills received accolades for both music and film at the just concluded East African Arts Entertainment Awards (EAEA).
Rwanda’s The Ben, actress Alliance Isimbi–popularly known as Alliah Cool–, producer Kozze, and Alex Muyoboke are among many who shined at the event as they took home leading awards of the night.
The Ben, regarded among the best Rwandan vocalists and artists, was awarded Best Music Video of the Year for his recently released song “Ni Forever” which he dedicated to his wife on their wedding day. Rwanda’s Country Records studio and label –with upcoming producer Kozze on the helm–took home two prizes for Audio Producer of Excellence and Best Music Studio East Africa.
Muyoboke Alex, one of the biggest names in artiste management in Rwanda, secured Best Artist Manager East Africa, beating Chiki Kuruka from Kenya, Babu Tale from Tanzania, and Ismail Nzeyimana from Burundi. Alliah Cool–one of the Kigali Boss Babes socialites’ group– triumphed with the ‘East Africa Film Star award’ over Kate Actress from Kenya, Jacob Stephene JB from Tanzania, and Nabwiso Mathew from Uganda.
Kina Music’s Butera Knowless and Nel Ngabo won People’s Choice Collaboration of the Year with their joint track ‘Mahwi’, while Gakondo singer Marchal Ujeku won two awards. Marshal’s viral song ‘Ntakazimbastyle’ won Best Culture Music- East Africa, while his entrepreneurial venture, ‘Marchal Real Estate’, bagged the Most Supportive/Best Real Estate Company.
Speaking to SENS Magazine, producer Kozze expressed gratitude to the awarding ceremony for acknowledging the growth of Rwanda’s creative industry. The young producer stressed that it was not until recently that you could see Rwanda represented on such big platforms. As such, it should act as a wake-up call for more Rwandan talents to join the sector, which is currently looking as a prospective and enriching profession.
“This award is for Rwanda and the whole Country Records team. We are coming bigger this year with many projects that might take us to even bigger places than this,” Kozze noted.
For Noppja, the founder and Managing Director of Country Records, this is a breath of something larger. In his words, if local artists produce high-quality projects, they might unleash momentous competition in the international arena. The investor believes that all the celebrities who emerged victorious at the awarding gala deserved it, emphasizing, nevertheless, that more of these kinds of events on the continent and beyond should give a platform to Rwanda.
“It is time that even more big awarding events acknowledge the progress of Rwanda’s creative industry. This will help our talents go global and sell on the big markets,” said Noppja.
It should be noted that Rwanda is no stranger to scooping up big at the East African Arts Entertainment Awards as Meddy won the People’s Choice Artist of the Year award back in 2022, while Bruce Melodie emerged as the best in the same category a year later.
