This archive report was first published on 15 July 2019.
On July 15, 2019, the judges for the inaugural East Africa Got Talent show were announced at the Coca-Cola Office in Nairobi.
The show's diverse lineup of judges includes Jeff Koinange, a renowned media personality in Kenya with experience working for various news media agencies across the world.
Other judges include Gaetano Kagwa, a Ugandan actor and broadcaster with a strong background in the media scene in the region; Vanessa Mdee, a Tanzanian singer and songwriter credited as the first ever Tanzanian MTV VJ; and Makeda Mahadeo, a Rwandese media personality, deejay, and emcee who is credited as the first female DJ in Rwanda.
The judges will play a critical role in approving contestants who will proceed to the next stage, providing feedback and criticism on the acts. Contestants will be eliminated if they do not receive the majority vote from the four judges.
The show, which will be localized to suit the East Africa market, is set to be broadcasted across four countries in East Africa, including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda. The media partners for the show are Citizen TV, Clouds TV, NBS, and RTV respectively.
The Coca-Cola Company has been officially unveiled as the official Refreshment Partner for the show across all four participating regions.
“The Coca-Cola System believes in supporting the creative sector in the country and providing a platform where people can showcase and develop their talents across the region. We believe that the judges chosen have the capability of selecting the best acts for our East African audiences to appreciate and enjoy the show,” said Beatrice Nyamari, Senior Integrated Marketing Communications Manager, Coca-Cola Southern and Eastern Africa Business Unit (SEABU).
The show will feature a variety of talents from people of all ages in East Africa, with acts ranging from singing, dancing, comedy, magic, juggling, stunts, and other genres.
Each contestant needs to receive three approval ‘yesses’ from the judges to go through to the next round. The winner of the show will walk away with KES 5 million (USD 50,000) as voted by the audience.
