Deceased journalist gets Lifetime Award

The Late Patrick Kanyamibwa Patrick Kanyamibwa has been posthumously recognised at the 2014 Groove Awards ceremony. The journalist, who fervently promoted gospel music in the country, died in a road accident on September 10 aged 32. A tribute video about the life of the Kanyamibwa was screened as the event came to a climax, before inviting his widow Jeanine Mukabacondo and her five-year-old son Kenzo Kanyamibwa to receive the Award. A minute of silence was observed in memory of Kanyamibwa and he was posthumously awarded A Lifetime Achievement Award. Serge Iyamuremye is the Male Artist Of The Year. The event ended with many surprises. But the biggest surprise was True Promises choir who bagged two awards. The choir scooped the Choir of the Year award and their song, Manurera was voted the Song of the Year. Serge Iyamuremye and Anointed Vessels (group) also had a happy night, taking home the Male Artist of the Year and New Artist/Group of the Year respectively. Singers, Gaby, Fanny and Tonzi perform at the event. Gospel music enthusiasts descended on the venue as early as 2pm and were entertained by the Moriah band and comedians such as Ramjaan. Groove Awards 2014. The New Times/YouTube Kevin Kilei, the Managing Director of MoSounds, the founder of the Groove Awards, gave a glimpse into the background of the awards, and thanked the people who turned up. Anointed Vessels was awarded the New Group Of The Year. “We thank you all for coming and supporting us. Rwandan artistes have a lot of potential and one day Rwanda is going to be number 1 in East Africa in gospel music. The artistes just need a platform. What we stand for is to enlighten, expose and give a platform and we don’t want to set ourselves on a standard we can’t maintain,” said Kilei. Radio Presenter and singer John Ndabarasa celebrates with fans after winning the Traditional Artist Of The Year Award. Top performers at the event included The Blessings, among others. Key guests were invited on the stage to present the awards to the winners, and these included, among others, Alian Numa from MTN, singer Mighty Popo, Patrick Samputu from Bralirwa and Eric Kabera of Kwetu Film Institute. Find the full list of the winners. Life Achievement Award- Patrick Kanyamibwa Outstanding Contribution- Aime Uwimana Dance Group of the Year- The BlessingsAudio Producer Of The Year- Leopold Radio Presenter Of The Year - Florent NdutiyeWebsite Of the year- Ibyishimo.com Diaspora Artist Of The Year- Israel MbonyeNew Artist/Group Of The Year-Anointed VesselsVideo Of The Year- Olivier RoyWorship Song Of The Year- Amagambo Yangye by Patient BizimanaRadio Show Of The Year-Umuhanzi w’icyumweruWebsite Of The Year- Ibyishimo Hip-Hop Song Of The Year -Kumvira by Mugema Dieu DonneShow Of The Year- Umuhanzi w’ikyumweru Traditional Artist Of The Year-Ndabarasa by JohnTraditional Song Of the year- Mana urera by True PromisesSongwriter of The Year- Issa Noel BarinijamboFemale Artist Of The Year- Gaby KamanziMale Artist Of The year- Serge Iyamuremye. 2014 GROOVE AWARDS CEREMONY IN PICTURES: True Promises walked away with two awards, The Choir Of The Year, and Song Of The Year 2014. A fan poses for a picture with Patient Bizimana, whose song (Amagambo Yanjye) was voted the Worship Song Of The Year. Authentic Radio Presenter, Issa Noel Karinijabo (middle) accepts his award for Songwriter of The Year. Gaby Irene Kamanzi won the Female Artist Of The Year award. MCs Pastor BDP and Ramujan share a light moment with Aimé Uwimana’s son during the event. Mugema Dieudonnes song (Kutumvira) was voted the Hip-Hop Song Of The Year award. Olivier Roys song (Yego) won the Video Of The Year. Radio and TV 10 journalist, Florent Ndutiye, walked home with the Radio Presenter Of The Year award. René Hubert Nsengiyumvas website (Ibyishimo.com) won the Christian Website Of The Year award. (All photos by Faustin Niyigena)

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Deceased journalist gets Lifetime Award