Bongo Star Search has officially launched its Kenya and Uganda edition in Nairobi, with founder Rita Paulsen announcing expanded auditions that now include singing, dancing, comedy, acrobatics and visual arts.
Auditions will take place on March 7 and 8,2026, at the Hilton Hotel in Nairobi, alongside online submissions open to talent from across East and Central Africa, with the overall winner set to receive $20,000 and a car.
Speaking during the launch in Nairobi on Monday, Paulsen said she was delighted to return to Kenya for the second time with the popular talent search, which was first established in 2006.
“It’s a pleasure to be back in Kenya,” Paulsen said, noting that the show has previously identified Kenyan talent that went on to perform strongly on the regional stage.
She praised local production partners, including Benchmark Productions 360, and said clips from previous seasons highlighted the show’s growth and impact.
Paulsen emphasized that Bongo Star Search is no longer limited to singing alone, but has evolved into a broader platform for creative expression.
“Kenya is rich with a lot of talent. To me, this is not just a launch. We are here to celebrate Kenya’s talent and give them a platform,” she said.
She added that contestants can now audition in categories such as dancing, comedy, acrobatics and visual arts, encouraging creatives of all backgrounds to participate.
Longtime judge and show contributor Paulsen also revealed that a new Kenyan celebrity judge will be announced for the upcoming season.
“Here in Kenya, we’ll be having a new judge who is a Kenyan artist, a celebrity. We were here last year and had a judge, and now we’re here to find another one to join the team,” she said.
The auditions in Nairobi will be conducted over two days, with organizers urging anyone aged 18 and above to attend.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re 50 or 60 years old like me. If you have a talent, anything can happen to you,” Paulsen said.
Online auditions will also be open to participants from Uganda, Congo, Burundi and Rwanda, expanding the show’s regional reach.
Ravi Kumar, the Regional Head for Azam TV in Kenya & Uganda, said the launch marked an important partnership with Channel 106 Sinema Zetu, which will broadcast the show.
“Today it’s an official press conference for the Bongo Star Search launch in Kenya and Uganda,” Kumar said, adding that live and recorded coverage would air on the channel.
Organizers said the winner will walk away with $20,000 and a car, while the second runner-up will receive Sh5 million and a recording deal.
“Let’s celebrate art,” Paulsen said. “Art can change someone’s life. You can change your life through the talent that God gave you.”
Bongo Star Search (BSS) is a popular Tanzanian musical reality TV show, launched by Rita Paulsen in 2006, that discovers and promotes young singing talents across Tanzania and East Africa (Kenya, Uganda) by providing a platform for them to showcase skills through nationwide auditions and interactive voting, aiming to launch music careers with winners often getting studio recording deals.
The show, known for its fun auditions and lifecycle as a media-driven learning environment, has grown to become a major event, with seasons expanding its reach and partnering with platforms like Azam Tv for broadcast.
