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Uganda: Last Local Standing in Popstars
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New Vision (Kampala)
10 May 2008
Posted to the web 12 May 2008
Ivan Musoke
Kampala
I'VE constantly referred to him as the guy that looks like the guy who did Popstars a while back. I say this in jest, of course, but nonetheless, when I met him, I kind of felt silly. The first thing I expected when I met Faycal was attitude, not the positive one mind you, but rather, I expected him to exude airs that said: "Look at me, I am a star. I have granted you this opportunity that you may look good."
Far from it. Humble, friendly and laidback, this guy is what we wish "stars" were.
Media houses have suggested that he is not Ugandan, citing the fact that he performed with Rwandese artistes that consequently were nominated for a PAM award.
Faycal shrugs and says they can say what they want, but the truth is he is Ugandan. Born in Kisoro, he left Uganda when he was still young and grew up in Kinshasa. This helps to explain the accent that many have said is not from around here.
"Imagine a scenario where a soccer player is taken from here, and he becomes part of the Brazilian team - does that make him any less Ugandan?" Faycal offers.
He asserts that he holds a Ugandan passport and that should count for something. He does not look at his border hopping as trading his citizenship, but a way to make things work, to make ends meet.
He is multilingual and speaks five languages, which has helped him a great deal to secure employment around East Africa. I can tell you first hand that he is fluent in Swahili because a section of his interview was conducted in the coastal language. What's particularly interesting is that he did not grow up speaking English, but rather learnt it two months before auditioning for Popstars.
At the time he was in Kenya trying to make ends meet when his sister called him up and told him there was a competition taking place that he might be interested.
He opted to sign up from here, because he was under the impression that contestants had to perform from their countries of origin. Interviewing him, I'm impressed at his grasp of the English language.
Undaunted by the fact that he didn't win the Popstars competition, he kept on trying to perfect his craft, offering vocals in different artistes's songs around the region.
I bring up the issue of the judges, hoping he will agree with me and everyone else that doesn't work at Multichoice that Scar is a jerk. He doesn't.
"The judges offer advice as they see is necessary. Some contestants may feel that they are being treated harshly, but everyone has their opinion. I believe that they are telling us what they feel will help shape us into the Idols we are trying to be." I try taking a different route by asking him who, of the contestants, does he think will emerge as the African Idol. Without missing a beat he says he can't tell.
"The competition is unpredictable. I might say someone is good - this guy is good or that girl is good - then the following day the person is sent home. I mean, all of us have what it takes to become Idols, otherwise we wouldn't be here."
He does agree that he also wants to win, if for nothing else to do his wife and child of four months proud. "They were my motivation, and I mainly entered this competition because of them. However, this competition also provides a platform for exposure, so the contestants can cling on to hope that they impress producers from all over."
He performs Lionel Richie songs so one would suspect that he draws inspiration from the crooner. One would be wrong. "I am inspired by Brian Mcknight. I like his music and his vocal range. However, with Lionel Richie it is easier to perform his songs. He doesn't alternate his range as much."
The hardest part of being in this competition, he says, has been building short-term relationships. The nature of the show is such that you cannot maintain close ties for too long. It's not that it is forbidden, it's just that the people you get close to, could easily be gone the following day.
One of the most frightening experiences was the walk up to the stage to perform for the judges. Confidence was hard to muster knowing this was it, the moment of truth, if you didn't impress the judges, you'd be back home in your living room, seeing what might have been.
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Fortunately, he skipped that hurdle. However, that hasn't made him complacent. He reasons: "If you can't impress the people in front of you how can you expect to impress people that are back home watching from a distance?"
Speaking of the people back home, he asks that you give him an opportunity to do the country proud. His brother Marshall insists that we tune in this weekend, for he will "blow you away!"
I suppose there's only one way to find out, but if I were permitted an assessment, Faycal is definitely going places, and your vote will go a long way in ensuring that.
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| Copyright © 2008 New Vision. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections -- or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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