When Frank Rukundo, better known by his stage name Frankie Joe said that he will use his fame in Big Brother Africa-Hotshot to enhance his career, no one thought it would come this soon. 

With his recent fracas with Burundi’s music crooner, Kidum, still vivid amongst many Rwandans, the former BBA representative is planning to collaborate with Nigerian singer Iledare Oluwajuwonlo, aka Jaywon. He is known for hit songs such as Angelina, From Anambra and Back to Sender, among others.

The New Times has learnt that the two met in Nigeria two weeks ago, where Frankie and former BBA housemates from Uganda and Mozambique had gone to surprise Tayo Faniran, first runner-up and former Nigerian BBA Hotshots housemate –on his birthday.

On his return from the Big Brother Africa show, last November, the Nyegera singer admitted that he had a crush on Uganda’s Stella Nantumbwe, aka Ellah. The two were together in Nigeria.

A beaming Frankie revealed that it was his first time to be in Nigeria, adding that the Nigerian singer was happily looking towards working with him. "Jaywon is a great singer, a big shot in Nigeria. He is willing to work with me and we will record something soon,” says the singer.

Besides the impending collabo, Frankie also made trips to Ibadan and Abuja as he scouted scenes from where he could shoot the video of his new song, Byina. Tayo will feature in the Byina video.

It should be noted that after Nollywood movies became so popular on the African continent and beyond, Nigerian music has since followed suit, largely becoming a favourite to many. There are already concerns that local DJs nowadays play more Nigerian music than local. Under this phenomenon, it is therefore understandable why a collabo with a Nigerian will set a higher platform for Frankie Joe.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw