As an up-and-coming music star, Bwiza is already accustomed to the glamorous life. But as the red carpet rolls out, some are already asking, is Rwanda really celebrating the right talent? Can the singer hold its own?
00:09But as the Asangona Musica Awards turn five, one question remains.
00:14Do these awards truly honor talent?
00:17Or is there more beneath the surface?
00:20I think I have to win this time around.
00:23Yeah.
00:26Biza, one of Rwanda's top female musicians, rose to fame in 2021.
00:32Her electrifying performances earned her a spot on the 2024 Isangona Musica tour.
00:37Back then, she was named Best Female Artist and is now determined to defend her title.
00:43What makes her so confident?
00:45Music. Good music.
00:48Biza is convinced that her talent and hard work will secure her another win.
00:54But things don't always go so smoothly in Rwanda.
00:57Several local music awards have already failed due to financial difficulties or credibility issues.
01:03But Isangona Musica has prevailed.
01:05To mark its fifth anniversary, there's even a press conference to dispel any doubts among journalists and opinion leaders.
01:12While some see a stable platform, others are still not convinced.
01:17Is Isangona Musica awards really about supporting music, or is it just a business venture?
01:26One of our missions is to promote artists.
01:29When we're fortunate, we secure sponsors.
01:32But even without them, we do it anyway.
01:36For the past five years, we've seen other awards emerge and then collapse over credibility.
01:42How do you navigate the challenges that have caused others to fail?
01:48Gaining recognition as a fair award organizer is never easy.
01:52We do our best to ensure that the awards remain merit-based, minimizing personal relationships and external influences that could compromise fairness.
02:01While the debate continues, Biza concentrates on her concert.
02:05And it is, as always, special.
02:08She draws her fans on stage and turns every performance into a communal celebration.
02:13Is it just a performance?
02:15Or is there something deeper behind her desire to dance with her audience?
02:20When I was younger, I used to see all these big musicians.
02:25Maybe they come at our school and I want to join them at the stage.
02:30Some of them, they were, how can I say, maybe rude?
02:34They can give you that chance to join the stage, to dance with them, to make that memory.
02:39I think it is in that way, I do that, to create some memories with my fans.
02:47To strengthen transparency, the music awards organized by Isango took a new approach.
02:52Instead of relying on an internal panel, they involve journalists and influencers in nominations and voting.
03:01The public also votes online.
03:04And an independent jury finalizes the winners.
03:10This is an unusual approach.
03:11Other organizers tend to keep it to themselves and then we discredit the whole thing because we didn't know how the process went.
03:17Thank you for getting us involved in supporting the Isango Namuzika Awards 2024.
03:25The big night is here.
03:27Tonight, the winners will take home their awards.
03:30Musicians, mentors, journalists and many experts from different fields have joined to witness the celebration of talent.
03:37The event is also joined by Isango Namuzika's key partner DW, dedicated to promoting African talent globally.
03:44Usually Africa is associated to sometimes poverty wars and ETC, but then this is an example that Africa is developing.
03:54Africa has more to offer than what has been often subjected to it.
04:01As the winners in different categories are announced, the audience has their own predictions on who they think will take home the trophy of the best female artist of the year.
04:10Let's hear it.
04:11Biza worked hardest this year.
04:19I would say Biza. She's doing great.
04:22And the final moment comes.
04:24As Biza predicted, she wins. But unfortunately, she isn't present to receive the award. She's abroad, preparing and promoting her debut album. In her absence, her manager steps on stage to accept the award on her behalf. For her, the award is a test of the award.
04:42In three or two years ahead, I want every person in Africa to be proud of me to be proud of me and say that that's our girl. That's an African girl. That's a really, really common girl. Yeah.
05:04After five years, Isangona Musica continues to grow with a system that ensures fairness and transparency.
05:15Biza's win, like others, highlights a stage where talent, not just influence, shines.
05:20Will it stay on this path? Or fade like those before it? Only time will tell. But for now, we wish them all the best.
05:33You know, we wish them all the best.
05:35It's going to be a problem.
05:36It's going to be that you might be a part of this.
05:37But if you're just a person who is here, it's going to be the best.
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