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Award-winning Kenyan singer-songwriter Eric Wainaina will perform at the live televised grand final of the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Swahili young entrepreneur competition, Faidika na ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ (Prosper with the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳), in Mombasa, Kenya on Thursday 13 August.

Eric Wainaina's music is a modern blend of Kenyan 'benga' rhythm and East-African guitar tunes.

He will sing at the grand final as six finalists, representing Burundi, DR Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, will compete for the Faidika na ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ trophy and US$5,000 to help realise their business idea.

The event will be broadcast live by ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Swahili and by the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation.

Eric Wainaina says: "The youth have great potential and big ideas that can have a big impact on the economy of the world. Faidika na ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ is such a brilliant project, and am honoured to be part of it."

The six finalists are Ciza Bone, from Burundi; Nyota Kikukama Angelique, from DRC; Jane Mueni, from Kenya; Hakizimana Aladin, from Rwanda; Mbarak Juma, from Tanzania; and Gakuo Roy, from Uganda.

They have been selected from more than 10,000 young entrants (a record for the competition) from Swahili-speaking territories.

Notes to Editors

³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Swahili is a multimedia broadcaster providing radio and online content to Swahili-speaking audiences.

³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Swahili is available on ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ FM stations and/or partner radio networks in Burundi, DR Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.

Programmes are also available via the website bbcswahili.com which offers up-to-the minute news, features and analysis on East Africa and the rest of the world.

³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ World Service is an international multimedia broadcaster delivering 32 language and regional services.

It uses multiple platforms to reach 182 million listeners globally, including shortwave, AM, FM, digital satellite and cable channels.

It has around 2,000 partner radio stations which take ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ content, and numerous partnerships supplying content to mobile phones and other wireless handheld devices.

Its news sites include audio and video content and offer opportunities to join the global debate.

For more information, visit bbcworldservice.com.

³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ World Service International Publicity