Home ShowBiz Judge Ian Finds Rwandan Music ‘Too Local’

Judge Ian Finds Rwandan Music ‘Too Local’

by Andrew Shyaka
10:08 am

TPF’s Judge Ian Mbugua

Tusker Project Fame Judge Ian Mbugua has urged local artists to go beyond the mother tongue and record songs in Kiswahili and English to extend their music beyond Rwandan borders.

Judge Ian made the remarks while appearing on KT Radio’s weekend show #Satoconcord live when he was asked why Rwandan music cannot make it onto the regional scene.

“Rwandan music is not popular in Kenya or anywhere in the region simply because artists don’t sing in languages like Kiswahili and English. I don’t mean they should drop Kinyarwanda because it’s their originality, but adding in English and Kiswahili is the only way to go regional,” says Mbugua.

Some artists are on the right track though, and they include TPF two times champion Alpha Rwirangira.

“I like the way Alpha Rwirangira is doing music mixing Kinyarwanda, Kiswahili and English which adds him more fan base in Rwanda and beyond,” he said.

Ian Mbugua became famous in Rwanda and across East Africa in showbiz industry due to his character as a no nuisance person when it comes to judging talent search during Tusker Project Fame.

Mbugua is not only a music critic, but also an actor, musician and a music teacher in Kenya. He is one of the respected judges when it comes to talent search across East Africa.

Mbugua was in Rwanda to feature among the panelists of Iam the Future talents which is at semi final stages.

Organized by Future Records, the competition includes the biggest award of  Rwf15 million and a record label deal for one year.

The runner – up will walk away with Rwf7 million and a deal to record a song and a video.

On Saturday December 22,2018, five contestants will be selected for the finals scheduled to take place on December 29, 2018 in Kigali

I am The Future features among the biggest talents search competition in the local music industry.