RFI unveils 2020 Discovery Award finalists

They include Ami Yerewolo (Mali), Shan'L La Kinda (Gabon), Manamba Kanté (Guinea), D6BEL (Chad) and Mike Kayihura (Rwanda). Others finalists comprise JsideB, Moonaya and Granny Cruz (Senegal) and Nix Ozay and Young Ace Wayé (Congo-Brazzaville).

Voting is now open, and the public can vote for their favourite artists via the RFI official website.

The winner will receive the following:

• A €10 000 ($11 800) cash prize.
• A tour of Africa.
• A chance to play at a concert in Paris, France.
• Media exposure from RFI and its partners.

The finalists were selected by a jury comprising media and music industry professionals, including Fally Ipupa, Singuila, Charlotte Dipanda, Youssou N’Dour, Angélique Kidjo, Richard Bona, A'Salfo, Kery James and Jacob Desvarieux.

The award contest discovers and promotes new musical talent from musicians or bands from Africa, the Indian Ocean and the Caribbean including Haiti.

Last year, DRC’s Céline Banza won the competition. Other musicians who have clinched the award include Maurice Kirya (Uganda), Yvan Buravan (Rwanda), Tiken Jah Fakoly (Ivory Coast), Amadou and Mariam (Mali), Rokia Traoré (Mali), Didier Awadi (Senegal), Soul Bang’s (Guinea), M’Bouillé Koité (Mali) and Céline Banza (DRC), among others.