Music star with Senegalese roots, AKON is expected in Kenya on 27th March 2015 for Airtel Trace Music Star Pan-African Grand Finale, the continent’s music competition which will take place on Saturday, 28th March 2015 at Enashipai Resort and Spa in Naivasha.
Akon is expected to arrive with a team of 3 people that includes Devyne Stephens, a reknowned Music mogul who owns UpFront Records and is said to have worked with artists such as Pebbles, Toni Braxton and Pink to TLC, Usher and Boyz II Men.
Apart from discovering Akon, Devyne also worked with Jay Z, P Diddy, Alicia Keys, Usher and Mariah Carey among other music heavy weights.
The winner of the first ever Airtel phone-song competition will be crowned in a Grand Finale which will be filmed at Enashipai Resort & Spa 28th March and will be televised 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. 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” 33733.
Final decision to select the pan-African winner will be made by public vote and 3 judges:
1. Akon, the multi-platinum artist/producer and the most African of the American artists
2. Devyne Stephens, the acclaimed manager of some of the best rap and R&B artists in the world (Alicia Keys, 50 Cent, P Diddy, Mariah Carey etc.)
3. Lynnsha, the multi-platinum artist from the French Caribbean
Judges will each retain twenty five percent voting power, leaving the public with an additional twenty five percent leverage. Public voting polls are open until March 25 and you can vote for your favourite finalist by sending an SMS to the short code dedicated to their country, along with their key word.
The overall grand prize comprises of a record deal, promotion and mentorship campaigns for a total value that exceeds $500,000.
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