This Saturday a new music star was crowned. Benjamin Webi was crowned the winner of the Airtel TRACE Music Star Competition, Kenya edition. The Trace Music Star competition started on the 5th of October gave an opportunity to singers to compete by dialing in a short code to submit their entries.
Webi will now represent Kenya in the Pan African event which has contestants from 12 countries (Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Madagascar, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Chad, Congo B, DRC, Gabon.) The competition will take place in March this year. The contestants are competing for an overall grand prize of a recording deal with Kon Live, a distributed label through Universal Music Group, and an intense mentorship Programme with Akon in the United States of America.
Phyllis Mwihaki came in second in the Airtel Trace Music Star competition and Trina Mungai came in third position.
Benjamin Webi went home with Kshs 2.7 million (Euro 25,000) in cash and an iPhone 6 Plus, while Phyllis took home Kshs. 100,000 and an iPhone 6 Plus. Trina Mungai got a cash prize of Kshs. 50,000 and an iPhone 6.
While expressing his excitement, Webi said, “When I saw the Airtel TRACE Music Star competition advert on TV, I didn’t hesitate to enter. I didn’t expect to get to this level knowing that it would be that competitive but thanks to the judges, thousands of Kenyans who voted for me, I made it; I am the first winner of the Airtel TRACE Music Star Kenya edition.
“I can’t wait to get to the next level, the Airtel TRACE Music Star Pan-African competition. This will be about competing with different talented youth from 12 different African countries, giving it my best with the hope of becoming the winner to clinch the recording deal. I am super excited about this opportunity. One thing is for sure, I will not disappoint the thousands of fans who voted and believed in me, I will not disappoint you. I intend to put my win to good use and conquer the Pan-African competition,” he added.
