Seventeen musically talented individuals from Uganda will join the rest of East Africa in Nairobi for an intense round of screening after going through the Kampala auditions in Tusker Project Fame 6 where a record 1000 people showed up over the weekend.
The final round of screening for East Africa’s top 18 contestants that will get into the TPF 6 Academy and compete for the most coveted prize in the most inspirational and ultimate music talent show in come October begins in earnest on 20th September, 2013 and the Ugandan hopefuls will have to put their best feet forward.
Held at the Sheraton Hotel in Kampala on 7th and 8th September, 2013, the final auditions to select talented individuals from Uganda were a beautiful and exciting spectacle of talent, fashion, comedy, drama and surprises as more than one thousand participants showed up aiming to impress the judges.
They came with their guitars, pianos and violins and the judges for the day, musician Juliana Kanyomozi, Actress and singer Cleopatra Koheirwe and Capital FM presenter and TV personality Flavia Tumusiime had their work cut out for them as the auditions began at 9:00am.
From the extremely talented, to the average and the out rightly unserious contenders, the judges auditioned one after the other and when day one of auditions was over, the three judges had zeroed down to 36 participants who were shortlisted to come back on day 2 and battle it out for top honours. These would be joined by winners from Arua and Mbarara auditions held two weeks and one week before respectively.
Before day 2 auditions began, Judge Juliana Kanyamozi expressed what the judges were looking for in the contestants, “We are out to spot raw talent and unique voices coupled with confidence and the X factor that is needed for one to become a star. We want to get the best and most talented individuals that will represent Uganda in Tusker Project Fame 6”.
One after the other, they sang their hearts out with international artists like Rihanna, Alicia Keys, Adelle, Bruno Mars and Neyo being popular among the contestants as they all attempted to match or better some of their famous songs. Local artists featured in the auditions with Maurice Kirya, Naava Grey Irene Namubiru and Juliana’s songs being used by several contenders.
In the end, it boiled down to the right choice of song, its delivery and ability to remain confident under the glare of cameras and the criticism of the judges. For some, their nerves got the better of them while for some, a great display of their mastery of music and performance.
Of the more than 1000 hopefuls that showed up for the auditions, only 17 qualified for the next stage of auditions and screening in Nairobi where they will be pitted against their East African counterparts as the journey to select the top 18 contestants that will enter the TPF 6 academy heats up.
The lucky seventeen are Daisy Ejang (21), Irene Nambogga, Kasakye Sitenda (27), Charity Kabalinta (22), Betty Komushana (21), Kavuma Herman (22), Eliab Kasumba Dorothy Ashaba (23), Tracy Birungi (21), Bartson Lutalo (23), Asha Nakitto (23), Samuela Mateega (26), Shakil Ali (23), Rebecca Nambi (27), Derrick Kojjo (22), Undercover Brothers Group comprising Katiika and Abudul (both 22) and Sheila Nayebare (21)
Speaking after the auditions, Harry Mwanje, Tusker Lager Brand Manager said, “Tusker Project Fame has established itself as East Africa’s ultimate talent reality series. We are proud to be part of grooming Uganda’s musical talent and we are proud to be playing a key role in bringing the region of East Africa together”.
Uganda will be keen to see how the season unfolds as Tusker Project Fame 6 that’s bigger and better unfolds. The audition shows premiered on Sunday 8th September with the recordings of the Kigali auditions.
The daily highlights will be broadcast on Monday to Friday at 9:30pm-10:00pm and the live eviction and nomination shows on Saturday and Sunday starting from 8:00pm and 7:30pm respectively.
