Music in Rwanda

Rwanda is an African country having a long history of folk music. Because of socio-military unrest and violent conduct, many people of Rwanda have migrated to countries overseas in the current years, carrying with them the Rwandan music to cities such as Brussels. The most exalted musical tradition in Rwanda is perhaps the Ikinimba. This is a dance, which tells the stories of heroes and kings of Rwanda, accompanied by instruments such as ingoma, ikembe, iningiri, umuduri and inanga. The inanga, which is a lyre-like string instrument, has produced several Rwanda’s finest known performers internationally, involving Sentore, Maitre de Rujindiri, Kirusu, Sebatunzi, Sophie and Victor Kabarira.

The Rwandan-Belgian Cecile Kayirebwa is the most popular Rwandan musician. Prior to the 1990’s which had mush chaos, Rwanda produced famous local bands such as Imena, Nyampinga, les 8 Anges, Les Fellows, Impala,, Abamarungi, Los Compagnons de la Chanson, Bisa, Ingenzi and Isibo y’Ishakwe. They captured influences from all over Africa, mainly the Congo and Caribbean Zouk and reggae. After the civil war, music slowly came back to the nation, and new stars came up, the most conspicuous of which is perhaps Aime Murefu, a guitarist that draws upon American rock and blues guitarists such as Jimi Hendrix, BB King and Carlos Santana. Currently, singer Jean-Paul Samputu, together with Ingeli his group, won two Kora awards (African Grammy), for being the most Inspiring Artist ands also the Best Traditional Artists in the year 2003, for their performance of neo-traditional Rwandan music. The group goes around the world proclaiming the Christian message  of peace and reconciliation, and helps collect money for the number of orphans in Rwanda.