Senegalese-American RnB singer Aliaune Badara, also known as Akon, is set to visit the country to award the winners of Airtel TRACE Music Star, a competition that has been running for six months to unlock the potential of upcoming musicians.
Akon, 41, who is the campaign’s ambassador is expected to be part of the adjudicators who will select the best from the 2.3 million callers who have participated in the competition. Airtel Trace Music Star involved people calling the network where they showcased their talents in singing. In each country, TRACE selected 5 finalists who went head-to-head to win the national title and the right to represent their country at the pan-African finale in Kenya.
During a 6-month-selection process in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Madagascar, Malawi, Nigeria, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Chad, Congo Brazzaville, The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Gabon, tens of thousands candidates had to demonstrate their skills and talent in their native land. The winner of the Airtel TRACE Music Star competition will be crowned in a spectacular pan-African Grand Finale filmed at Enashipai Resort & Spa on March 28 and will be televised starting on April 18 at 8pm all over Africa on TRACE music channels and national leading Free to Air TV networks.
The final decision to select the pan-African winner will be made by public vote and a three judge panel of Akon, Devyne Stephens, the acclaimed manager of some of the best rap and R&B artists in the world like Alicia Keys, 50 Cent, P Diddy and Mariah Carey and Lynnsha, the multi-platinum artist from the French Caribbean.
The judges will each retain a 25% voting power, leaving the public with an additional 25% leverage. Public voting polls are open until March 25 and you can vote for your favourite finalist by sending an SMS to the short code dedicated to their country, along with their key word.
The overall winner will bag the grand prize of a record deal, promotion and mentorship campaign for a total value of about Ksh46 million ($500,000).
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