Kigali, Rwanda – Getting lunch from the local buffet line just isn’t what it used to be. In between rice and plantains, a pretty woman in a dark suit walks up to Alpha Rwirangira to say hello. A moment later another woman comes up and offers congratulations. While picking a beef stew, he is interrupted again, this time by a man who pats him proudly on the back.
“I don’t know any of these people,” Alpha says. “I’m just getting used to it now. At first it was hard. I can’t say hello to everybody.”
Everybody wants to say hello to Alpha, the winner of this year’s Tusker Project Fame, a Nairobi-based reality TV-music competition which a huge youth following all over eastern Africa. Before the competition Alpha was just a secondary school student, singing in his church’s choir. Though he always aspired to be a musician – Alpha counts late South African reggae star Lucky Dube as a role-model – growing up in Rwanda never gave him the chance.
“I would say I’m someone who has grown through obstacles,” said Alpha during an exclusive interview. Raised by his stepmother, looking after his brothers and sisters, attending school, didn’t give him a lot of opportunity to push the music.
Now he has a recording contract with Africa’s premier record company, Gallo Records of South Africa, plus a new computer, a year of full health insurance, and, oh yeah, Kenya shillings 5 million in cash, or just over $66,000.
“It will help push me along for a while, but not forever. Whatever comes can also go, I have learned that. I just want to stay me.”
Recognition and prestige
It’s easy to say, but when you’ve done something like Alpha has done, bring a new wave of credibility, recognition, and prestige to a tiny war-weary country such as Rwanda, you’re setting the standard pretty high.
When he stepped off the plane at Kigali International Airport after returning from Kenya, he was thronged by hundred of waiting fans. His cell phone now rings non-stop. T-shirts emblazoned with his face are sold throughout town. For a country that has little recognition for his music, Alpha has become a miniature national hero. President Paul Kagame hasn’t made a courtesy call yet, but, “soon, perhaps” Alpha promises.
“People used to think I was a nobody, now I’m a somebody. I’m treated like a superstar.”
A superstar who says he will do his best to walk the tightrope between the traditional values he grew up with and the frenzied pace of celebrity life.
“Most songs talk about women, sex. I want my music to be educative,” he says. “I want to talk about society, what’s around us.”
His original composition for the Tusker Project competition, One Africa, is a song of unity and reconciliation, something his Rwanda can ululate together with passion. The country was devastated by genocide in 1994. Since then it has recovered by leaps and bounds.
But while combating poverty, laying fibre optic cables, fighting corruption and bringing in over a million tourists, Rwanda has difficulty proving its worth on the international cultural stage. While traditional Intore drumming and dance is popular, the music people listen to usually comes from Kampala, Nairobi and Dar es Salaam.
Alpha has put Rwanda on the map.
originally published in Africa Review, Kenya
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