Airtel talent show back for second season

Benjamin Webi, who won the Airtel Trace Music Star Season 1 Kenyan Edition and went on to compete at a global level. PHOTO| COURTESY

What you need to know:

  • The last time a Kenyan participated in a continental show was Tecno’s Own The Stage competition, which saw Elizabeth ‘Sikin’ Rege and Pascal Tokodi make it to the final, challenging stages, but not win.

  • These two talented musicians have already come back and hit the ground running, what with Pascal recently releasing a steamy hit number, "Sitaki".

Everyone’s talking about it so you must have heard about it by now – Airtel Trace Music Star is back in Kenya for its second season. It would seem that Kenya, and indeed, East Africa is a breeding ground for many talented musicians, though the problem, more often than not, is turning the winning of the competition, or appearance in it, into something tangible.

The winners tend to fade into obscurity while the runners-up have more drive to go for what they want – such as Fantasia and Amber Riley off similar shows in the US, and Amos and Josh or Msechu (whatever happened to Davis?) back home.

THE LAST TIME…

The last time a Kenyan participated in a continental show was Tecno’s Own The Stage competition, which saw Elizabeth ‘Sikin’ Rege and Pascal Tokodi make it to the final, challenging stages, but not win.

These two talented musicians have already come back and hit the ground running, what with Pascal recently releasing a steamy hit number, "Sitaki".

From (L-R) Phylis ‘Phy’ Mwihaki Ng’etich, Trina ‘Katweeny’ Mungai, Benjamin Webi, RISH, Joy Gitau and Bliss ‘Blinyow’ Kioo during the Airtel Trace Group performance of Sauti Sol’s SuraYako on January 3, 2015. The Airtel Trace Music Star competition is back for a second season, and this year’s mentor and judges for the Kenyan panel have been unveiled. PHOTO | FILE

While we’re on the subject, Kenya was last represented by Benjamin Webi, who won the Airtel Trace Music Star Season 1 Kenyan Edition and went on to compete at a global level.

This season will have Carol Atemi, Wyre and Chris Adwar as judges for the Kenyan who will represent us alongside 9 other African countries to compete fora mentorship program with multi-award winning singer-songwriter Keri Hilson in Atlanta, as well as receive a signed contract with a major music label and worldwide media exposure. All you need to do is use an Airtel line to Call, Sing and Win – 0900 733 733 from an Airtel line.