Kenyan girl sings her way to fame

Ruth Matete is the winner of Tusker Project Fame Season Five.

The Kenyan walked home Sh5 million richer at the close of the show on Sunday night. She also bagged a recording contract with Universal Group worth Sh10 million.

After eight weeks in the music reality show, Ruth beat 15 contestants from six countries — Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan and first-timers Burundi.

After the final eviction show held on Saturday night after Kenya’s contestant, Steve, was shown the “red card”, it was now a battle between Kenya and Burundi in the finals held on Sunday night at the TPF Dome in Ruaraka, Nairobi.

The final four contestants were Kenya’s Ruth and Doreen Muchiri, as well as Rwanda’s Jackson Kalimba and Burundi’s Joe Irankunda.

Kenya’s Doreen went on stage first as Joe, Jackson and Ruth followed in that order.

Doreen’s below-par performance was highly criticised by the judges and the faculty members alike, saying that it was one of her worst performances in the show.

However, Burundi’s Joe set the standards high by performing a Papa Wemba song, followed by Jackson, who sang one of his favourite songs by legendary musician Lokua Kanza.

Although Ruth had never heard of UK rock band Coldplay, she finished the show gracefully by performing their hit song Clocks.

Finally the time came to announce the winners at the end of the show. Joe came in at fourth place, according to voters across East Africa.

The second runner-up was Jackson while the first-runner-up was Doreen, leaving Ruth as the winner.

She was first overcome by emotion, as she lay on the stage as if she had collapsed after she was announced winner. A few minutes later, however, she managed to compose herself.

“I want to thank God, and all my fans who voted! I will not disappoint you,” said an emotional Ruth, after she was declared winner by East Africa Breweries Limited marketing director Deborah Mallowah.

Highlights of the colourful grand finale included the return of all the evicted 11 contestants, who sang a song at the beginning of the show.

Others included a mock performance by Samuel Gitau, who is popular despite having one of the worst performances during the audition process.

Gitau performed Michael Jackson’s Thriller, to the amusement of the crowd.

Just before the winner was announced, Kenya’s pop trio Camp Mullah performed their hit song Party Don’t Stop.

The show’s hosts were singer and Easy FM presenter Sheila Mwanyigha and Uganda’s veterinary doctor Mitch Egwang, who kept the show moving without any hitches.