Rwandan musician France Mpundu has secured her spot in the next phase of the popular reality TV show Secret Story Africa, after surviving a tense elimination round that saw two contestants leave the competition.

France was among four contestants at risk of being evicted this week, but overwhelming support from Rwandan fans, through online voting, saved her from elimination. Her votes allowed her to advance to the quarter-finals of the show, which is currently being filmed in South Africa.

France will continue in the competition alongside Sarah from Côte d’Ivoire, while Ouaidou from Chad and Josée from Benin were voted out. The show, which airs on Canal+ Magic, now has eight remaining contestants.

The latest eviction episode was filled with emotion as tears flowed among both the eliminated and the remaining housemates, visibly affected by the departure of their peers.

France Mpundu, who is already a familiar name in Rwanda’s music industry, made history as the first Rwandan to ever participate in Secret Story Africa show broadcast on CANAL+ that awards the winner approximately 50 million Rwandan francs.

This marks the second edition of Secret Story Africa, following last year’s maiden season won by Awa Sanoko from Côte d’Ivoire. This year’s competition started with 18 contestants from 16 French-speaking African countries, all vying for the grand prize and continental recognition.

Secret Story Africa airs on CANAL+ POP from Monday to Friday at 8:15 p.m., and every Saturday on CANAL+ Magic at 10:30 p.m.

About Secret Story Africa

Secret Story Africa is a French-language reality competition television show, adapted from the French original television show Secret Story. It’s been one of the country’s most popular reality shows for nearly 18 years, airing on major networks like TF1 and RTL Plug before expanding its success to Africa.

The show follows a group of contestants from all over French-speaking African countries who live together, isolated from the outside world in a house called Maison des Secrets (House of Secrets), fitted with cameras and microphones in each room.

Each week, a contestant is voted out by the spectators. They also have a secret that they must keep, while also discovering that of the others.