Preparations for TPF 6 in high gear

East African Breweries Limited (EABL) is set to announce dates for auditions of sixth season of the Tusker Project Fame music competition.

Friday, August 09, 2013
Last seasonu2019s winner Ruth Matete poses with the Ksh5M from the sponsors East African Breweries. Net photo.

East African Breweries Limited (EABL) is set to announce dates for auditions of sixth season of the Tusker Project Fame music competition.The annual regional music contest is set for September, 2013. This week, the beer manufacturer announced that the new season of East Africa’s biggest and most popular music competition will feature innovations and surprises compared to the previous editions.This has also been revealed by Judges including Ian Mbugua who recently posted on his Facebook page that the sixth season of the televised music contest will be bigger and better."We have learnt and corrected different mistakes that happened in last five editions and changed them to produce the best vocalist in Africa in 2013,” said Mbugua in one of his posts.Rwandans will once again get a chance to participate in the TPF 6th edition when the auditions open and attempt to emulate Alpha Rwirangira, who won the third edition and went on the excel in the subsequent All-Star edition.EABL has promised that the sixth edition will see contestants acquire better music skills compared to their counterparts in the last editions.Ruth Matete from Kenya won the sixth edition while Davis Ntale from Uganda won the fourth one. However there have been questions about what happens to the winners after the competition.The likes of Valerie Kimani who won the first edition and Esther Nabasa from Uganda who won the second one have struggled to make it big in the music industry. Only Alpha Rwirangira, who is currently studying in the US, has tried to out a few songs. Rwanda’s Jackson Kalimba who emerged third last year has also launched his musical career.Last year, Alpha spoke of his frustration with EABL and how it has failed to meet most of the promises made to him.Judge Mbugua recently addressed the issue pointing out that there are gaps that need to be filled. "I hope that this time more talent will flock in for auditions. We want people to take home something more than just winning,” he told the media.He faulted previous winners for reflecting redundancy in producing music but at the same time also faulted the organisers for poorly managing the winners’ skills and finances. "They lack support in sponsorship and honest record labels with quality. A lot needs to change this time round. I hope EABL as a sponsor can manage these talents even after TPF seasons with more opportunities from events and outside performances.” Mbugua said.

That said, if you know you have what it takes, you better start working those vocals because auditions will come your way soon.