MAURICE KIRYA, the award-winning Ugandan composer and singer, will perform at the live televised grand final of the BBC Swahili young entrepreneur competition Faidika na BBC (Prosper with the BBC) to be held in Kampala, Uganda on Thursday 26 June.

With his mix of what he calls ‘fusion soul’, Maurice will open and close the grand final. It will be broadcast live by the Uganda Broadcasting Corporation, where one of the competitions five finalists will be awarded US$5,000 towards the launch of a successful business with a positive impact on their community.

The five finalists are Ashura Kisesa from Burundi, Witness Omoga from Kenya, Rangira Aime Frederick from Rwanda, Apolinary Joseph Laksh from Tanzania and Dereick Kajukano from Uganda.

Maurice, who grew up singing in school choirs and gospel churches, has performed with some of the most celebrated musicians from across Africa including the Malian Moussa Diallo, the Nigerian 2 Face Idibia, the South African Yvonne Chaka Chaka, the Kenyan Susanna Owiyo and the Tanzanian A.Y. His ‘fusion soul’ music blends African percussion with Western and Eastern influences which he sings in five languages including English, Luganda and Swahili. Maurice has performed for Ugandan President, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, at his home, and once collaborated with fellow Ugandan artist Kawesa in a musical performance dubbed ‘Music with Heart’.

This performance raised money for the International Hospital Kampala enabling surgeons to perform some of the first heart surgeries in Uganda.

Maurice won best R’n’B Pearl of Africa Music Award in Uganda and is a two-time nominee for the Kora Awards in South Africa and the Kisima Awards in Kenya. Originally trained as a youth counselor, Maurice continues to work with non-governmental organisations to help educate young people about HIV and Aids prevention through music. He currently runs The Maurice Kirya Experience which showcases the talents of vocalists, musicians and poetic and visual artists from across East Africa.

BBC audiences across Uganda can enjoy Maurice’s ‘fusion soul’ music as well as find out which budding entrepreneur will win the prize and receive the Faidika na BBC trophy live from 16.30 GMT on Thursday 26 June via BBC Swahili radio and online, via bbcswahili.com.