Rwandan singer Bruce Melodie has been nominated for Best East African Artiste at the 18th edition of The Headies, putting him among five leading artists from the region competing for the continental honour.
Bruce Melodie will compete against Tanzania’s Abigail Chams and Harmonize, Kenya’s Bien and Uganda’s Joshua Baraka. The nominees were announced on Tuesday as The Headies unveiled its 2026 awards lineup.
The awards ceremony is scheduled for October 23, 2026, in Toronto, Canada, as The Headies continues its international expansion.
Music released between August 1, 2024, and April 30, 2026, was eligible for consideration for this year’s awards.
For Bruce Melodie, the nomination marks a return to the regional category after he was also shortlisted at the previous edition. In 2025, Tanzania’s Juma Jux won the Best East African Artiste award, ahead of Bruce Melodie, Kenya’s Bien, Tanzania’s Diamond Platnumz and Uganda’s Azawi.
The latest nomination further strengthens Bruce Melodie’s profile on the regional music scene, placing him alongside some of East Africa’s most prominent contemporary artists.
The Headies is one of Africa’s established music award platforms, recognising artists and music professionals across a wide range of genres and categories. The 18th edition includes regional categories for East, West, North and Central African artists.
