Linda Mbabazi
6 April 2009
Kigali — A group of local artistes and some from the East African Community are in collaboration to perform during the 15th commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi. Cooperation is the word used here!
While the country will be commemorating and paying respect to over a million of Rwandans who perished during the 100 days of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, musicians too, will be expressing their grief on the tragedy. Healing messages through their music will also be passed on to the genocide survivors and to the entire community of Rwandans. This high level artistic collaboration comes at the right time when Rwanda was officially registered as a member to the East African Community (EAC), thus bringing all member States to jointly act to avoid the genocide ideology, and to create a peaceful community.
Rwanda will be joined by different countries in the ceremony that will officially take place in Gicukiro district, Kigali.
The song "Never Again," which brought together famous local and regional musicians, was composed by Rwanda's celebrated gospel singer Jean Paul Samputu.
In an interview, Samputu told The New Times that he was contacted by Joseph Mushoma, a prominent local businessman, to compose a song for the 15th anniversary of the 1994 Rwandan genocide against the Tutsi.
"This was my greatest opportunity," Samputu says. "That's when I though of the word: [Never Again], because I always sing about unity and reconciliation."
Samputu says that the song was later presented to the Executive Secretary of the Commission that fights against Genocide Jean de Dieu. It was approved, and a group of local and regional artistes were contacted to join in the performance.
The song is composed in Kinyanrwanda, but its choruses are composed in different languages: English, French, Swahili, Kirundi and Kiganda, in order to give it a popular appeal.
A group of talented male and female musicians are already in the country, busy preparing themselves for the eve of the 15th anniversary of the commemoration week.
East Africa's artistes in the collaboration include: Kenya's based Burundian singer Kidumu, Uganda's diva group Blue3s, Kenya's Nameless and Tanzania's famed singer Khalid. S. Muhamed, a.k.a T.I.D. Local musicians include: Miss Shanel, Miss JoJo, Allen Gahongaire, Miss Tonzi, Intore Masamba and Jean Paul Samputu, among others.
Rwanda's famed traditional blues singer Intore Masamba said, "In my philosophy as an artiste, I believe the song will help to heal the wounds of the genocide survivors, and to create hope to the entire Rwandan community, despite what happened."
"We also plan to launch a one dollar concert, in order to raise funds to build houses for the orphans of the genocide against Tutsi."
The emotional artistes expressed their deep concern, during the interview with local journalists at the Top Tower hotel, about what happened during the 100 days of bloodshed, and they blamed the world for having ignored the situation that claimed over a million of Rwandans.
"As a person who co-produced the song, it's a reminder to everyone that genocide is against human race and to the entire world," says Robert Kamanzi, music producer and composer.
"God created us so that we may live together, but not to eliminate each other."
Blue3's Lillian Mbabazi, who wore shades to avoid showing the grief on her face, testified that as a Rwandan, she lost some members of her family.
"The song talks about remembering what happened in the genocide," said Mbabazi, "We're trying to pass the message to even the future generation, so that they can know what happened, and the implications of the genocide."
Mbabazi is a renowned Uganda based Rwandan singer, best known for her vocal cord in the Uganda's famous Blue3s. The group comprises three female talented singers.
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