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Rwanda: Samputu to Perform at a Reconciliation Conference
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The New Times (Kigali)
23 May 2008
Posted to the web 23 May 2008
Eugene Mutara
Kigali
The Rwandan musician based in United States of America, is in the country for several music performances that will be promoting unity, peace, forgiveness and reconciliation.
Samputu is the guest singer invited by Amahoro Africa; an African movement that advocates for reconciliation across the continent. It is this movement, which organised the conference.
"Hallelujah, we are going to dance for the lord," Samputu said before he started singing his gospel songs in Congolese rhythm.
As he started singing, people from different countries in Africa, USA, Australia and Latin America, started clapping their hands in appreciation.
He danced with his 'Mizero' children, a cultural troupe sponsored by Samputu the international star. Samputu is the first Rwandan artist that has earned an international fame.
The winner of the prestigious Kora Award (the "African Grammy") for Best African Traditional Artist in 2003, Samputu travels across the world as a cultural ambassador for Rwanda. He does not only entertain people with the Rwandan traditional music, but also works as an ambassador of peace.
He educates young people about genocide through panel discussions and forums at colleges and universities in the western world.
He is among the two African artists who performed for the 'World Culture Open' at the Lincoln Center in New York, and has also performed for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
His dancing techniques and styles prompted UNESCO to officially declare the Rwandan national culture, one of the world's Unique Cultural Heritages.
In 2006, Samputu got the 1st place winner in World Music after winning the International Songwriting Competition (Psalm 150).
In 2007, Samputu was recognized as an "Ambassador of Peace" by the Inter-religious and International Federation for World Peace.
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Currently, Jean Paul Samputu is working with Ted Mason as well as Sandra Bernhard.
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