Coca-Cola rated next: who will take the sh50m on Sunday?

By Denis Dibele

This is where it all ends. Uganda’s largest ever singing talent search culminates with the finale to be held Sunday at Wonder World in Kansanga. Either Rebecca Nanziri, Daniel Kaweesa or Comfort Asingwire will walk away with the top prize of sh50m and a recording contract from Fenon.

The four-month search climaxes with three stars battling for the top prize. The three are:

REBECCA NANZIRI, 24

At her very first audition in Kampala, Rebecca hit the ground running with the song My Redeemer Lives by Nicole Mullen. On Day Two of the auditions, she sang When You Say Nothing At All by Alison Krauss. It was evident she would go far in the contest. And here she is, among the top three.

Born to Pastor Edward Lule and the late Teddy Nakitto, Rebecca went to Kawempe Community Nursery School, Kawempe Muslim Primary School, St. Thomas Aquious Secondary, Kawanda Secondary (UCE) and Kampala Secondary (UACE).

A devout Christian, this social student of Information Systems at Makerere University is second in a family of five girls. No longer with her father, and with her mother deceased, she lives on her own at a students’ hostel near Makerere University. Her boyfriend, who lives in the US pays for her everything, including tuition. They have dated for eight years, and plan to get married when he returns next year.

“We were workmates at a Makerere University stationery shop selling study hand-outs to students in 2005. That is how we fell in love,” she recalls.

She says she owes her boyfriend a lot, and that she would never cheat on him because he filled the void of an absentee father when she needed one. Her devotion to praye helps her fight temptation because several good-looking guys keep hitting on her.

In this competition, Rebecca points out two major milestones.

The first? Making it to the Top 20 level, thanks to wise counsel from Judge Maurice Kirya, who advised her to improve her voice by taking honey mixed with hot water and lemon.
 

 The second one, she says, " is the possibility of reuniting with my father because my half-sister told me that when she told our father I was in the competition, he promised to vote for me. So maybe he is voting, and he might contribute to my winning if I do. That will be a good precursor to reuniting, don’t you think?”

She adds that the competition has also made her find new friends in the competitors, as she has learnt to associate with them as friends, not competitors.

A lover of R&B and zouk music, Rebecca is into fitting dresses, jeans and tops because “they accentuate my beautiful figure.”

THE MONEY: If she wins the money, she intends to further her music career, as well as buy land and put up rentals.

*****

COMFORT ASINGWIRE, 23

Laid-back, happy, loving, outgoing and God-fearing. That is is how Comfort, a born-again Christian defines herself. Another of those whose star has kept rising throughout the competition, the graduate of international relations from Cavendish University in Uganda auditioned in Kampala with Celine Dion’s I Love You, which sent her straight to Day Two.

And when she did the first verses of Keisha White’s The Weakness In Me on Day Two, judge Sharpe Ssewali was smitten, and said: “You do not have to go so far in the song; you have a singing voice.”

And clearly, she is still singing, and just might walk away sh50m richer – who knows?

A church singer and  video editor with the Rubaga Miracle Centre’s Channel 44 TV, Comfort is the second of two children of Mr and Mrs Bigombe. Her favourite person is her big brother, who she is close to. Growing up with her parents in Mulago and Kyebando, Comfort used to sing while her father recorded her on a cassette. Listening to herself made her fall in love with music.

She went to V&H Kindergarten in Mulago, Shimoni Primary, Light College Katikamu, Taibah (UCE) and St. Lawrence Citizens High School, Paris Palais Campus.

She was naughty while growing up, recalling a childhood incident when she and her brother were sent to a nearby shop and she mixed rice with sugar in what incensed the shop owner, but instead her brother was punished for it.

Easily angered by people who take advantage of others, Comfort enjoys going to the beach with friends, watching movies and meeting new people. She also loves fitting clothes and wearing high heels, any day, anywhere. And for the guys, we are sorry, she is dating and looks forward to getting married in less than two years.

The most exciting memory for her in the competition is being together with everyone else in boot camp at the Top 10 level.

“It was like a family, and I got to learn each of the contestants at a personal level. We joked, rehearsed and once in a while had arguments. I am definitely going to miss the union,” she says.

Comfort’s says she has learnt from the competition  that one should find a centre point in life where they work and get to meet many different people.  "This made a big difference, and I will always have fond memories of it. Even in a competition, you need your competitors.”

THE MONEY: She belives the sh50m prize is only a bonus and that the network of people she has created is what will get her to bigger things.

Nonetheless, she would like to open up a business to employ young people if she wins the money, and use the recording contract to further her music career.

****

DANIEL KAWEESA, 23

Juliana Kanyomozi’s Kanyimbe is what nailed Daniel a “Yes” for his Day One auditions at Arua Hill Grounds in Arua. For Day two, he sang Beera Naabo by Maurice Kirya, which put a smile on the Judge’s face.

And that is what sent him on a journey of impressive performances throughout the race, making him a favourite of many at the contest’s live recordings at Ndere Centre. He was clearly  a hard-to-beat contestant.

A graduate of development studies from Uganda Christian University, Arua, this humble and joyful lad loves music and  as he says, “really simple things about life.”

Daniel is the last of five children of Pison Wanyera and the late Nancy Bako in Arua. He  has fond memories growing up in Kampala, Jinja and Bugiri.

“Basically, I was the trouble causer in the house, and a cry baby too, since I was the last born and weakest of them all. Too weak to win any fight against any of my siblings,” he says.

He went to St. Peters Primary in Nsambya, Buganda Road Primary, East High School, Ntinda (UCE) and Arua Public School (UACE). An Arua contestant coming this far in the competition is a milestone, since not many believe there is not much talent up-country, due to lack of exposure.

“This competition has made me learn that talent is one’s biggest weapon regardless of where you come from,” he says, adding that his first live performance on stage was his most memorable moment of the contest.

“People were expectant, and I delivered without disappointing, and I was from Arua. That meant a lot for me, man,” says Daniel. He says he does not easily get angered, save for when he encounters people who do not value others.

For the ladies, sorry, he is devoted to his girlfriend, whom he has dated for the last eight years.

" I intend to marry her.”

THE MONEY: Daniel looks forward to winning the jackpot and recording contract so that he takes his singing career to the next level. “I have what it takes in talent, passion and a dream to bring big and fresh sounds to Uganda’s music industry.”
 

HOW TO VOTE

**Is Rebecca your favourite contestant? Type VOTE 4 and send your SMS to 8338 **Is Comfort your favourite contestant? Type VOTE 2 and send your SMS to 8338 **Is Daniel your favourite contestant? Type VOTE 10 and send your SMS to 8338