Boukuru Knocked Out of The Voice Afrique Francophone, Sabrina Keeps Rwanda's Hopes Alive

The The Voice Afrique competition, broadcast on Canal+ Magic, has entered its highly competitive Battle stage, where two contestants from the same coach's team perform head-to-head, with only one advancing to the next round.

During the episode aired on July 17, 2026, Rwandan contestant Boukuru faced Esmel in a closely contested performance. Both singers impressed the judges, making it difficult to determine who had delivered the stronger performance.

The final decision rested with their coach, Josey, who ultimately chose to keep Esmel on her team, bringing Boukuru's journey in the competition to an end.

After the announcement, Boukuru thanked Josey for the opportunity to work with her throughout the competition. However, as he attempted to address the audience, he became overwhelmed with emotion and broke down in tears in front of the judges.

The elimination has since generated mixed reactions among Boukuru's supporters. While acknowledging Esmel's talent, some argue that he did not outperform the Rwandan singer and believe Boukuru deserved to advance.

Some observers have also questioned whether nationality may have influenced the outcome, noting that both Josey and Esmel are from Côte d'Ivoire. One supporter told local media that it would have been difficult for Josey to eliminate a contestant from her own country in favor of one from Rwanda.

Despite Boukuru's exit, Rwanda remains represented in the competition. Sabrina, who is on Franglish's team, successfully advanced to the next round after defeating Ebene of Burkina Faso, keeping Rwanda's hopes alive in The Voice Afrique.