Akon to grace Airtel Trace Music Star competition in Kenya
Celebrated pop star Akon jets into the country next week for the Airtel Trace Music Star Pan-African Grand Finale.
The musician will arrive in Kenya on Friday, March 27, ahead of the event the following day at the Enashipai Resort and Spa in Naivasha.
Akon will be accompanied by Devyne Stephens, a music mogul who discovered Akon, Jay Z, P Diddy, Alicia Keys, Usher and Mariah Carey among other music stars.
The winner of the first ever phone-song competition will be crowned at a grand finale which will be aired starting on April 18th at 8pm all over Africa on TRACE music channels and national leading Free to air TV networks.
Kenya will be represented by Benjamin Webi, who was crowned Kenya’s edition winner in January this year.
GRAND PRIZE
Webi will battle it out for the grand prize with 12 other contestants from Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Madagascar, Malawi, Nigeria, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Chad, Congo Brazzaville, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Gabon.
To vote for Webi, you will be required to either call 0900733733 or SMS the word “Webi” to 33733.
Final decision to select the pan-African winner will be made by public vote and 3 judge panel comprising Akon, Devyne Stephens and Lynnsha, a multi-platinum artist from the French Caribbean.
Judges will each retain 25 per cent voting power, leaving the public with an additional twenty five percent leverage.
Public voting polls are open until March 25. The overall grand prize includes a record deal, promotion and mentorship campaign valued at more than Sh45.5 million ($500,000).