Alpha bags Sh5m in Project Fame

Rwanda’s Alpha Rwirangira was last night crowned the winner of the Tusker Project Fame season three at a colourful ceremony at the Tusker Project Fame Academy.

The 23-year-old walked away with Sh5 million and a recording deal with South Africa-based Gallo Records. Kenya’s Bernard Ng’ang’a came in second. Third place went to Uganda’s Caroline Nabulime while another Kenyan, Patricia Wangechi Kihoro, was fourth.

In his acceptance speech, Alpha who was brought up by a single mum, praised his dad and thanked God for all that he has achieved in the two months he has been in the academy. He also thanked his fans.

Said Alpha who is also a church worship leader back in Kigali: “I owe all I have I achieved so far to my dad. To me, he is a real hero.”

And just to show that he deserved to win, he wowed fans with a rendition of Les Wanyika’s Sina Makosa. However, it was no much surprise that Alpha won as he had a become a darling of all the judges at the latter stages of the competition.

Even the no-nonsense Kenyan judge Ian Mbugua described Alpha as his “number one” while his Tanzanian counterpart Hermes Bariki declared him a “superstar.”
Fans on many social sites had also given the Rwandese the thumbs up. First runners-up Ng’ang’a was described by many fans as a comedian wanna-be.

Tusker Project Fame, in its third season, is an East African reality TV music talent search show. Kenya’s Valerie Kimani won the first season while Uganda’s Esther Nabaasa was crowned TPF 2 winner.