WINYO, MAURICE KIRYA AND A.Y. HIT RFI DISCOVERIES AWARD NOMINATION

Kenyan guitarist Winyo has been nominated in the 2010 edition of the RFI Discoveries Award. Alongside him is Maurice Kirya from Uganda and A.Y. from Tanzania.

France’s international public service radio station RFI (Radio France Internationale) launched this year’s Prix Découverte RFI (RFI Discoveries Award). Since 1981 RFI has organised this award for singers and musicians which is open to entrants living in Africa, the Caribbean and the Indian Ocean islands

The jury consists of a panel of music professionals, headed up by a well-known artist. In the past Jacob Desvarieux, Salif Keita and Youssou N’Dour have contributed to the selection process. The award has helped many artists on the path to international success, including Tiken Jah Fakoly, Didier Awadi, Tcheka and Amadou & Mariam. The winner of the 2009 edition was the young Senegalese artist Naby.

This year, the prize for the winner will be a cash award of 7,000 euros + an artist development grant of 11,000 euros + a tour in Africa + a concert in Paris + concerts at major French festivals including Musiques Métisses d’Angoulême and Jazz de Coutances.

A.Y.

Winyo Shiphton Onyango  aka Winyo is a songwriter, who also worked as a professional photographer and TV producer, was accompanied on acoustic guitar, which perfectly suits the music he imagined. In July 2009, he released Thumology, an album from the trio blending traditional rhythms and folk melodies. Since then, Winyo focuses on a solo career to find a personal path that would be the best artistic aspirations.

The Full List Of Nominees For The Prestigious Award Include:

Maurice Kirya

1. AY (Tanzania)
2. Bholoja (Swaziland)
3. Elie Kamano (Guinea Conakry)
4. Koppo (Cameroon)
5. Lexxus Legal (Democratic Republic of Congo)
6. Mao Otayeck (Ivory Coast)
7. Maurice Kirya (Uganda)
8. Sandra Cordeiro (Angola)
9. Smockey (Burkina Faso)
10. Winyo (Kenya)