-Kigali
By Nkiko Benko
With 2023 quite living a solid stamp within the Rwandan Arts and Entertainment scene, as numerous strides were registered, which have left a concrete mark. our team took note and takes you through the major Acts that stood out, through events that shaped the industry.
Hope Azeda
The experienced Actress, and Artist Director, who is the founder of Mashirika Performing Arts and Media Company registered one of her best career moments when she met and shared a moment with Wole Soyinka, a legendary African Playwright. This was at the Africa ln The World festival in Stellenbosch, South Africa, where African Nobel laureates met for a convention in September.
Rwanda musicians stretch beyond local Borders
Unlike previous years, the local musical scene has registered immense success as regards its reach through the vast collaborative projects that have been registered. Across borders, in Uganda, Burundi, and lately DR.Congo; Rwandan Artists who include Ben Mugisha alias The Ben, Emerance Bwiza, Mani Martin, Bushali, Mike Kayihura, Davis D, Element, Yago, Alyn Sano have recorded and released songs with mainly several Ugandan and Burundian musicians, while some have traveled out of the country and graced stages. Rwanda, through events, has further hosted neighboring Artists like Sheebah Karungi, Eddy Kenzo, Navio, and Lilian Mbabazi among other Ugandan musicians alongside Emcees and Television hosts like Lyndah Ddane and Sheilah Gashumba, on top of Deejays like Deejay Roja.
Beyond him tapping the countries Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, DR. Congo, and Kenya through collaborations, Bruce Melodie recently recorded and released Funga Maco song remix which featured Award-winning Jamaican musician Orville Richard Burelle alias Shaggy. This further followed his trip to the US, where he not only participated in a media tour but also performed alongside Shaggy.
New Cultural Academy launched
In memory of the late musician Yvan Buravan, Twaje Cultural Academy a cultural education center dedicated to training youth was launched in July. The academy inspired by the late musician and is already operational aims at fostering the growth of Rwandan Culture and customs through music, dance, reading, and visual Art, alongside learning and understanding of Yvan Buravan’s musical legacy among children and youth, including those with disabilities. Having made entry into the scene in 2010, through songs Low Key, Bindimo, With You, Just a
Dance, Heaven, Si Belle, Gusaakaara among others, Yvan Dushime Burabyo alias Yvan Buravan passed on August 17 last year after losing a battle to cancer at the age of 27.
Kaya Byinshi selected for Prix Découvertes RFI
Afro-fusion and Soul musician Calene Ingabire alias Kaya Byinshi was recently selected among the top 10 contestants of the 2023 Prix Découvertes RFI, an international grand music competition platform organized by Radio France International (RFI), to award emerging talented musical acts from Francophone countries.
This is Kaya’s second participation in this competition,
where she first participated in 2021, UKWIYUBURURA’, her debut 12-song album joins other contestants from Guinea, Cote d’Ivoire, DRC, Senegal, Gabon, Burundi, and Mali will hold its grand finale on December 13 this year. In June Kaya concluded the Ukwiyuburura Africa Tour in May this year which saw her performing in cities Kampala, Addis Ababa, Kigali, and Nairobi. The Prix Découvertes RFI award was first won in 2018 by Rwanda’s Yvan Buravan, while Social Mula was also nominated for the 2019 edition. This competition which was last year won by DRC’s Alain Chirwisa alias Alesh has before been won by African icons like Didier Awadi, Tiken Jah, Maurice Kirya, and Yvan Buravan, among others musicians.
