Winyo Shortlisted For Rolex Mentor & Protégé Arts Initiative
By Stefano
We are proud to announce that our very own Winyo has been shortlisted as one of the four finalists for the Rolex Mentor & Protégé Arts Initiative!
Winyo at the Kisumu Peace Festival 2011
The Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative is an international philanthropic programme created to assist extraordinary, rising artists to achieve their full potential. It seeks out these artists from around the world and brings them together with great masters, for a year of creative collaboration in a one-to-one mentoring relationship(extracted from
Winyo was invited to apply for the programme by the Initiative’s Selection Committee and went on to be shortlisted as one of the four finalists in the music category of the Initiative.
If selected, Winyo will benefit from a year of mentoring,starting June 2012, from legendary Brazillian singer, guitarist and songwriter, Gilberto Gil.
Gilberto Gil.
Gilberto Gil is known for both his musical innovation and political commitment. From 2003 to 2008, he served as Brazil’s Minister of Culture in the administration of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Gil’s musical style incorporates an eclectic range of influences, including Rock music, Brazilian genres including samba, African music, and reggae (extracted from wikipedia). Gilberto Gil also has 7 Grammy Awards to his name including Best Contemporary World Music Album in 1999 and 2005 for his albums’ Quanta Live’ and ‘Eletracústico’ respectively. He also holds two Latin Awards Grammies for Best Brazillian Roots Album for 2001 and 2002.
Gilberto Gil, the 2012 - 2013 mentor for the Rolex Mentor & Protégé Arts Initiative.
Previuos mentors and protégés in the music cartegory of the initiative include Brian Eno (mentor) and Ben Frost (protégé) 2010/2011, and recently Youssour N’Dour (mentor) and Aurelio Martinez (protégé).
Winyo is set to travel to Rio Dejaneiro in Brazil for a face to face meeting with Gilberto Gil. Mr Gil will then select his protege out off the four finalists.
Many of you might remember Winyo has twice been selected for the Radio France International Discoveries programme of 2010 and 2011. He went on to be the first runners up in 2010.
Winyo on stage in Lasi, Romania
We take this chance to congratulate Winyo for first being selected and invited to apply for the mentorship programme, and on making it to the shortlist.
All the best in your meeting with Mr. Gil.
