Bruce Melodie: First Rwandan on Coke Studio Africa

Melodie has just returned home from Nairobi, Kenya, after recording a song with Kenyan rapper Khaligraph Jones. He is expected to return to the Kenyan capital for a video shoot soon.

“When I received an email from organisers inviting me to Coke Studio Africa, I thought it was a prank. It seemed too good to be true,” he said.

“Everyone did their job so well I was a little bit intimidated but now I realise that every artist is a star in their own way. I was neither the best nor the worst,” Melodie said after , adding that the Kenyan experience was educational and that he wanted to make his country proud.

The ‘Ikinya’ hitmaker apparently also met Zambia's Slap D and Tanzania’s Nandy while in Nairobi. Melodie has been making waves with the video for ‘Ikinya’, which has amassed more than 180 000 YouTube views since its release on 20 May 2017.

This year’s Coke Studio Africa has increased the number of participating countries to 16 from last year’s 11. This after the soft drink sponsor merged Coke Studio Africa and Coke Studio South Africa into a bigger Coke Studio Africa 2017. The 2017 edition will be broadcast in more than 30 countries across Africa and the highlight of the season is expected to be a special episode called the Global Fusion Edition! featuring US artist Jason Derulo. Derulo was in Nairobi this week to record a song with Uganda’s Bebe Cool.

“Coke Studio Africa showcases Africa’s incredible music by combining different artists and genres to inspire a new generation of African music fans,” Coke Studio Africa project director Monali Shah said at the announcement of the merger in May. “With the expanded show, we aim to bring the continent alive through a fusion of music and culture that celebrates our diversity.”