Alpha Rwirangira (born 25 May 1986) is a

Rwanda Rwanda, officially the Republic of Rwanda, is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley of East Africa, where the African Great Lakes region and Southeast Africa converge. Located a few degrees south of the Equator, Rwanda is bordered by ...

n singer/song writer. He sings

world music "World music" is an English phrase for styles of music from non-English speaking countries, including quasi-traditional, Cross-cultural communication, intercultural, and traditional music. World music's broad nature and elasticity as a musical ...

reggae Reggae () is a music genre that originated in Jamaica during the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its Jamaican diaspora, diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, "Do the Reggay", was the first ...

, soul R&B, and

dance music Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole piece or part of a larger musical arrangement. In terms of performance, the major categories are live dance music and recorded dance musi ...

all in English, Swahili and

Kinyarwanda Kinyarwanda, Rwandan or Rwanda, officially known as Ikinyarwanda, is a Bantu language and the national language of Rwanda. It is a dialect of the Rwanda-Rundi language that is also spoken in adjacent parts of the Democratic Republic of the ...

Music

It was after Rwirangira won the East Africa

Tusker Project Fame ''Tusker Project Fame'' is an East African reality-singing competition show sponsored by Tusker (beer), Tusker Lager. The show is similar to American Idol and Project Fame South Africa, musicians compete to win cash and a one-year record deal wit ...

that his professional music career began. This lead him to record and collaborate with

Tanzania Tanzania, officially the United Republic of Tanzania, is a country in East Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It is bordered by Uganda to the northwest; Kenya to the northeast; the Indian Ocean to the east; Mozambique and Malawi to t ...

n A.Y. on a song called ''Songa Mbele'', and Bebe Cool, on ''Come To Me'' song. After the release of the song, rumors began to circulate that Rwirangira "is not a true Rwandan", because he's cousin to A.Y. After winning Tusker Project Fame, Alpha started touring all over

East Africa East Africa, also known as Eastern Africa or the East of Africa, is a region at the eastern edge of the Africa, African continent, distinguished by its unique geographical, historical, and cultural landscape. Defined in varying scopes, the regi ...

. In 2010, Rwirangira finalized and released his debut album called ''One Africa,'' an album that promoted unity and reconciliation among Africans. He then launched it in

Kenya Kenya, officially the Republic of Kenya, is a country located in East Africa. With an estimated population of more than 52.4 million as of mid-2024, Kenya is the 27th-most-populous country in the world and the 7th most populous in Africa. ...

Uganda Uganda, officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered to the east by Kenya, to the north by South Sudan, to the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to the south-west by Rwanda, and to the ...

, and

Burundi Burundi, officially the Republic of Burundi, is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is located in the Great Rift Valley at the junction between the African Great Lakes region and Southeast Africa, with a population of over 14 million peop ...

. In 2012 Rwirangira, moved to the United States to attend Campbellsville University, in Kentucky to pursue his music studies. In 2012 during his Christmas vacation in

, Rwirangira recorded two singles, one with King James "Connected", "Beautiful" with Peace and "African Swagga featuring Rah P. In 2013 he worked with La'Myia Good on a song called "Heaven".

''One Africa'' album

* Songa Mbele Ft. A.Y. From (

) * Come To Me Ft. Bebe Cool (

) * One Africa * Mama * Love Ft. Junior (

) * This Child * Mwami * Happy Day Ft. Spax (

) * Only you * Ndagukunda “I Love You” Ft. Princes Priscilla (

) 2- WOW album • wow • Son of a king .• Hashindwi • Hakuna ft Goodluck Gosbert ( Tanzania ) • Victoria ft Princess Irebe • Iradukunda • Amina ft Keilla ( Burundi ) • Zura • Ishimwe • Ndaje • Ni wewe • Siku yangu

Awards

Won

* 2010 Pearl of Africa Music Awards – Best Male Rwanda Artist Year * 2011 Pearl of Africa Music Awards – Best Rwanda Male Artist * 2011 AMAMU Awards (Afrotainment Museke Africa Music Awards) – Best East African Song of the year for ''Songa Mbele'' (''Let's move forward'').

Nominations

* 2011 Tanzania Music Awards – Best East African Song for ''Songa Mbele'' featuring A.Y.,

Controversy

Alpha Rwirangira won the 2011 Pearl of Africa Music Awards as Rwanda Best Male Artist, but he refused to attend the award ceremony, because he felt it was poorly organized. Alpha Rwirangira refused to sign with South African Record Label Gallo Record Company as part of

Season 3 winnings. He also accused Tusker Project Fame of not helping past winners and they were in this for making money. In 2015, Alpha Rwirangira reported to have broken up with his longtime girlfriend Esther UWINGABIRE who was among Miss Rwanda 2012 contestants and his promoters Ernesto Ugeziwe and Tijara KABENDERA but both sides didn't confirm the news.

References

External links

Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rwirangira, Alpha Rwandan songwriters Rwandan male singers 1986 births Living people