He is a talented singer but Jules Sentore is yet to put his folk music genre locally known as Gakondo on the level it deserves. Unlike his counterparts who do mainstream genres like, RnB, Afro Beat and Hip hop, the Primus Guma Guma Super Star contestant has to interest fans in a genre that is yet to be appreciated in the main stream. “People don’t listen to Gakondo or traditional music. Radios also don’t play it so it takes extra effort to make people listen, that’s why we need more young people to join and more promoters to support so that it can grow,” Sentore says Listening to South African Kwaito one can appreciate modernity blended with tradition. Sentore says as more artistes do Gakondo in a modern style, producers are yet to learn how to combine the two. The grandson of the late famous singer, Athanase Sentore, says music is a calling. “Music is something you feel in your heart. You can’t force people to love something, but this is our music, nobody will love it for us. We have to like it and spread it,” he explains Sentore also recognises the fact that it will not be easy to emerge winner in the Primus Guma Guma competition. “It won’t be easy winning the competition because PGGSS depends on a person’s fame. It is going to be very tough but an artiste is one who grows from one step and goes to another. You have to progress and learn everyday on stage,” he says. He will keep working, to improve his vocals, to see his music grow professionally. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
