The music of Rwanda encounters Rwandan traditions of folk music as well as contemporary East African Afro-beat and Congolese ndombolo and performers of a wide variety of Western genres including hip-hop, R&B, gospel music and pop ballads.
Traditional music and dance are taught in “amatorero” dance groups which are found across the country. The most famous of these is the Ballet National Urukerereza which was created in the early 1970s to represent Rwanda in international events. Also famous were the Amasimbi n’amakombe and Irindiro dance troupes.
The ikinimba is the most revered musical tradition in Rwanda. It is a dance that tells the stories of Rwandan heroes and kings accompanied by instruments like ingoma, ikembe, iningiri, umuduri and inanga. The inanga, a lyre-like string instrument has been played many of Rwanda’s best known performers, including Rujindiri, Sebatunzi, Rwishyura, Simparingoma, Sentoré, Kirusu, Sophie and Viateur Kabarira, and Simon Bikindi.
Jean-Paul Samputu, along with his group Ingeli, won two Kora awards (African Grammy awards) for “Most Inspiring Artist” and “Best Traditional Artist” in 2003 for their performance of neo-traditional Rwandan music. The group tours the world spreading the Christian message of peace and reconciliation, and helps raise money for the many orphans of Rwanda. In 2007 Samputu brought twelve of these orphans, known as Mizero Children of Rwanda, to tour the U.S. and Canada. Cyprien Kagorora was nominated for a 2005 Kora Award in the category of “Best Traditional Artist”. He is among the most recognizable male vocalists in Rwanda.
In the post-colonial period, Rwanda revealed popular local bands like Imena, Nyampinga, Les 8 Anges, Les Fellows, Impala, Abamarungu, Los Compagnons de la Chanson, Bisa, Ingenzi, and Isibo y’Ishakwe. They took influences from across Africa especially the Congo as well as Caribbean zouk and reggae.
Socio-military unrest and violence resulted into many Rwandans to move overseas in the late 20th century, bringing their country’s music to cities like Brussels and Paris. For many years, Rwandan-Belgian Cécile Kayirebwa was arguably the most internationally famous Rwandan musician. She is still played regularly on Rwandan radio stations. The late 1990s saw the arrival of Rwandan-Canadian Corneille and Jean-Paul Samputu.
The Rwandan genocide temporarily interrupted/disordered music production within Rwanda. In recent years music has gradually returned to the country, led by Rwandan youth. A crop of new stars has emerged, including such names as Kamichi, Kizito Mihigo, Aimé Murefu, Mani Martin, Tom Close, Urban Boyz, Miss Jojo, King James, Knowles, Dream Boys, Kitoko, Riderman, Meddy Saleh and Miss Shanel.
Local music industry
The music industry of Rwanda is gradually growing and becoming more professionalized. An increasing number of companies are investing in the development of new talents including the production of major music festivals like ‘’Kigali Up!’’ and ‘’Primus Guma Guma Super Star’’, and the music competition television show, Ishusho K’umuziki Nyarwanda.