Guma Guma at 4: Where are the winners?

THEY ARE famous and rich. They have achieved great success in the music industry. The achievements range from bagging multiple music awards to selling out concerts and winning the biggest music competition in the country, Primus Guma Guma Super Star. Their huge fan base is testament to their hard work in an industry that has left many with sore wounds. Dean Karemera brings you the faces and facts behind these stars. Tom Close He is probably the only winner with a valid reason for taking a musical break. Dr Thomas Muyombo aka Tom Close was the first winner of PGGSS while still a student at National University of Rwanda. Ever since he won PGGSS 1, Close has managed to launch just one album Komeza Utsinde which was launched in September 2012. His unreliability in the music industry is due to his other career as a doctor, which takes most of his time. Since 2012, he wasn’t able to launch another album but released hit singles. In 2013, he managed to complete about 5 music videos including collabos like Kanda Amazi with Kina Music All Stars. In 2014, he has so far released six singles and two collabos. King James One would be forgiven to think that King James is an official government diplomat since his travels abroad are first making it to ‘Rwanda’s books of records.’ Ever since he won the biggest prize in Rwanda’s music industry, he hasn’t launched an album despite releasing a few hit singles. Most of his time in 2013 was spent traveling around Europe while empty promises of an album launch kept him relevant back home. However, if he stands by his word, he is planning a double album launch this year. We’ll be watching. Riderman The first hip-hop artiste to win a PGGSS competition outdid his predecessor by staging a successful album launch last year but that’s how far the story goes. Since January, he has promised to release an album but instead of his music making news, it was his reckless driving on an early Thursday morning that made headlines in the media. With news about his upcoming album (not so sure about that) being in multiple languages, we can only wait to see how far it will go in resurrecting his ‘dosing’ career. Jay Polly Jay Polly is one person who has stood the test of time. After losing twice and being disqualified for unacceptable behaviour in 2013, he bounced back like a person determined to win. However, going by the track record of the previous winners, it is highly unlikely that he will also be any different. At most he may launch an album but for him to stay relevant, it will take him more than just featuring in tracks, buying a new car and traveling abroad. He’ll need to take on new challenges if he’s to be any different but again, let’s give him time. He might prove us wrong.

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Guma Guma at 4: Where are the winners?