By Nkiko Benko
Not many youth have in recent years stood out to venture into the Rwandan traditional music genre of music, but Patient Rukundo whose stage name is Paccy Bolingo, 23 lately stands out for his tap into the local ancient genre, gradually earning a place among the few further carrying on the cultural music torch.
His recent showcase was a live performance as part of the Imizi Performance Tour. Right from its Title ‘Imizi,’ a Kinyarwanda word meaning roots; Bolingo’s music indeed borrows heavily from Rwandan Traditional sounds and history from which he crafts his lyrics.
With afew years into the industry, while the mainstream scene is yet to discover Bolingo; a few spaces like L’Espace , an Artists’ platform keen on curation and fostering of unique rising local and guest African Acts has furthered him through organizing a few exclusive performance events.
Although Rwandan Traditional music has for long been treasured, not many younger Artists have in recent years taken this path of pursuing the genre, possibly because the population mainly dominated by youth are more lined towards the popular music music culture, influenced by modern genres, making traditional music performances so rare. Bolingo is on a quest of changing this, through his tour.
Bolingo’s live performances are a cocktail of conversations in reminense of personal life experiences since childhood, and the Rwandan cultural roots, which he adores.
His Artistry comes with great accomplishment; with him a composer, writer, and Singer, more he displays through live stage performances as a Performer, and a versatile instrumentalist skillful at the Guitar and Keyboard too.
While his recent performance hosted by L’Espace in Kimihurura kicked off early; he took his audience through his original compositions, of songs off his Ten-song debut dubbed Umucancuro.
Claded in Rwandan traditional attire with a modern dash, his hair is ofcource designed from the Amasunzu, a famous Rwandan Hairstyle. While armed with an acoustic Guitar, on stage Bolingo is accompanied by a Three-man Band comprised of a Bass Guitarist, a Purcussionist and a Pianist. More to these are two vocalists too.
Although launched last year, the 2022 album is a deeply engraved composition, exemplary of how well roots meet mordernism in fusion. With instruments at its core, borrowing from Rwanda’s Inanga (traditional guitar), the Drums, paired with modern trumpet and keyboard, the album, a unique Rwandan Sound can well be heard.
With songs like Sogukuru, Umuntu, Uzagaruke, Biranyura, Umucakara, My Brother, Mahoko, among others, these compositions are a sail through Afro Jazz, Afro Soul, with a dash of soulful African rythem. Bolingo dishes out African Blues, with a Rwandan cultural touch.
Rwandans have indeed treasured their Traditional music acts right from ancient musicians who passed on, to Abdul Makanyaga, Vianey Mushabizi, Cecile Kayirebwa, Susane Nyamibwa and Mariya Yohana still living, who rarely perform, but Bolingo is one of the few younger acts promising another awakening to the Rwandan traditional Sound.
Unique about his recent performance is how it further incorporated 2024 Class of Art Ubuhanzi Rwanda, a talent competition platform, who from the audience backed up the Artist through out the performance, to later sharing stage with him.
The Artist, who is also a graduate of Rwanda School of Creative Arts and Music (RSAM) in Nyundo, and active Curator for rising talent is on a tougher task of holding a firmer grip on his mission of upholding redefining Rwandan traditional Sound.
