AFTER SUCCESSFUL AUDITIONS at district level, the second edition of Art Rwanda Ubuhanzi has reached a crucial stage with the provincial auditions now underway to select contestants who will represent their respective provinces at the national level. The provincial auditions are now underway in Eastern Province where, over the course of three days, from August 16-18, contestants from Gatsibo, Nyagatare, Kayonza, Ngoma, Kirehe, Bugesera, Rwamagana, are gathering at Midland Hotel in Kayonza District for the ongoing provincial auditions. They are presenting their works before a jury comprising rapper Riderman, singer and actress Shanel Nirere poet and actress Malaika Uwamahoro, plastic artist Bushayija Pascal, fashion designer Laurene Rwema, who owns Uzi Collection, as well as actor and filmmaker Mazimpaka Kennedy. Musician Mani Martin is also part of the jury but he did not make it on the opening day but joined the jury the following day. The judges have the power to pass or eliminate contestants based on quality assessment of the talent displayed. A total of 45 contestants representing Gatsibo and Nyagatare Districts gathered at the venue for the first day of the provincial auditions, where they showcased the best of their works in six different categories namely dance and music, fashion, acting and drama, photography and cinematography, literature and plastic arts. Some contestants made amazing presentations whose works were too hard for judges to snub. Sylvie Munyana, a young cultural musician representing Nyagatare District, is one of the contestants who left the stage with her head held high and proved to be a new treasure for traditional Rwandan music, as she took music to another level through her authentic voice. Her song, Mureke Aze left the audience inspired and in awe. Her voice saw judge Shanel express emotions and, as a result, went on to get the nod from all the six judges from the panel. The auditions resumed Wednesday, at the same venue bringing together contestants from Kirehe, Kayonza and Ngoma while the Eastern Province auditions concluded Thursday, with selection of contestants from both Bugesera and Rwamagana. Another noticeable showcase came from Wivine Ukwishatse who, through the painting of a lioness, used her talent to depict the role of a woman in the development of a family and society at large. She also booked a ticket to the final stages of the contest. After Eastern Province, the judges will shift auditions to Western Province, first in Rubavu District from August 23-24, while artists who passed the district-level auditions in Rusizi, Nyamasheke and Karongi will gather in Rusizi on August 26. Auditions will resume in Huye District, featuring artists who passed the district- level auditions in the Southern Province before taking the auditions to Musanze with the selection of contestants in Northern Province from September 7-8. The auditions will conclude at Rwanda Art Museum in Kanombe, featuring artists who passed the district-level auditions in the City of Kigali. Generally, among 3, 402 youths who registered for ArtRwanda-Ubuhanzi district-level auditions, 741 contestants passed and will proceed to the provincial stage. The winners will undergo a year-long incubation programme to groom and grow their talent and business acumen in order to earn from their crafts. After the incubation period, the artists will proceed to the finals that will determine the winner in each category. Three winners in every category will go home with RWF 1 Million each, and the top three projects will receive a grant of RWF 10 Million per project. ArtRwanda-Ubuhanzi is a project that aims to identify and support young and talented Rwandans within the creative arts industry for job creation. Themed “Nurture Your Talent”, the contest consists of a televised nationwide search and mentorship programme for creative youth in six categories (Music and Dance, Fashion, Acting and Drama, Photography and Cinematography as well as Literature and Plastic).
