People, art and culture have umbilical ties. Through these ties, people are able to voice concerns, societal ills, illuminate lives and live a life that could only be achieved through dreams.  

Rwanda currently sprawls with different and unique talents that range from musicians, film producers, publishers and visual artists among others.

Some of these artists have been around whereas others are newcomers; either way, these talented artists are attempting to have their name go down in the books of history, writes Dean Karemera. 

David Rwabigwi: The publisher and writer

Rwanda has over the years groomed a generation that has a keen interest in reading. David Rwabigwi is a Rwandan writer turned publisher who has set an example among the youth. At only 21, he is the author of ‘Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow: A Collection of Poetry on Genocide.’ 

He is also the founder of High School Review; a non-profit student-run group whose target is to encourage the youth to embrace the culture of reading and writing at an early age. He is also the Executive Director of Youth Literacy Organisation; an organisation that is committed to promoting aspiring writers and empowering them to become good story-tellers. In April, the organisation released 20 poems in a collection dubbed: "Telling Our Own Stories: Poems by Rwandan Youth 20 Years after the Genocide” which were written by young Rwandans aged between 14 and 28.

Tony Cyizanye: The visual artist

Tony Cyizanye is the director of Yego Arts Studio that currently counts ten well-established painters among its membership. He founded the studio in January 2013 using money he had earned from the sale of his own paintings. He later organised a group of local artists and community members to remodel an unused building in the Nyarutarama neighbourhood into a professional art studio. 

It aims at creating a vibrant, self-sustaining community of established visual artists in Rwanda, and to create new avenues for Rwandans to use the arts as a means of healing and generating sustainable livelihoods for themselves and their children. Yego Arts Studio has hosted various exhibitions including the highly successful "I Paint, You Sing” last year at Discovery Hostel Rwanda. Young painters from Yego Arts created original works of art before an audience, inspired by live musicians who shared their talent on guitar and vocals. 

Matthew Rugamba: The Fashion designer

With a label that seeks to influence style from the Motown era to Ozwald Boateng’s works, Matthew Rugamba is creating a combination of elegance and class with African heritage. The London-born founder and head designer of House of Tayo started the label in 2011 after his college education in the USA.  

Using a diverse mix of fabrics, featuring bold colours, strong prints, and culturally drawn textures; he has crafted the African wax print bow-tie. In addition, he has showcased his pieces in Chicago and participated in the Africa Fashion Week London 2012 where he stood out as one of the youngest designers. In the future, you can expect to see many more accessories, as well as clothing from the label.

Ciné Femme: The Trailblazer

These talented and courageous women ventured in a territory that has been dominated by men for a long time. Ciné Femme is a recently recognised association of female Rwandan filmmakers that premiered five new short films in March. Ciné Femme aims at expressing the growing relevance of the film sector within the Rwanda as well as the important role played by women artists. 

The five short films premiered included "The Sorrow” by Tahirih Uwimbabazi, "Swaga & Swing” by Peace Kinani, "Kazi ni kazi” by Magnifique Nsanzemariya, "Le Desir d’un enfant” by Esperance Uwimana and "Gasore” by Diane Ingabire and Claire Dukuze. 

Barbara Panther: The electro baroque star

Her music is a ridiculous mix of Bjork and Grace Jones musical ideas bound together by the sheer force of her personality. Barbara Panther arrived in Brussels from Rwanda at the age of three but was adopted by a Belgian family. 

She is based in Berlin and her style can be felt in an intoxicating blend of experimentation and melody. Her radical way of bending the rules of syntax to the eerie feel of her videos put her in a class that’s associated with Björk. She has collaborated with various artistes and released her excellent eponymous debut album, Barbra Panther, in 2011.

Joel Karekezi: The multifaceted film director, writer & producer

A bird of many colours is what Joel Karakezi can be called, but an inspirational individual is who he is. A genocide survivor, he received a diploma certificate in film directing from Cinecours and attended the Maisha Film Lab for screenwriting. He is the brain behind the gripping film Imbabazi: The Pardon about two friends torn apart by the Rwandan Genocide. He has won numerous awards including the Golden Impala Award at the Amakula Film Festival in Uganda and won the 2010 award for Best Short Film at the Silicon Valley African Film Festival. 

The film was screened at the Kenya International Film Festival, the Zanzibar International Film Festival, the Durban International Film Festival, and the Images That Matter Short Film Festival in Ethiopia. His script The Mercy of the Jungle won the CFI Award for the Most Promising Audiovisual Project at Durban Film Mart 2012. He recently started his own production company, Karekezi Film Production in Rwanda with the intention to make African films for worldwide distribution.

Phoebe Muyaboke (Jody): New-hot talent

Never has a musician come out and caused a buzz on radio stations and people’s lips like Jody.  At just 22 years of age, Jody has made a steady rise within the music industry with her songs being played on Rwandan airwaves and even as far as Uganda and Kenya.

Her fusion of Afro pop with soft reggae, RnB and dancehall make Jody a star that is ready to claim her share of fame, power and money within the industry. Signed under Platinum Entertainment record label in Uganda, she has released hit singles such as Njye Nawe, Intera, Tenderness, and her latest single Ndacyashikanya. She has also performed alongside established musicians.  

The poets: The spoken "poetry”

For all intents and purposes, Spoken Word is a performance of words in an artistry form. The words are in form of recited poetry, storytelling, or oration; as it is with standard poetry, it centres mainly on how an individual delivers a poem. Usually these consist of things such as the dynamics, gestures, emphasis and style of speech.

Started by Diana Mpyisi and Betty Tushabe, it is staged twice a month and has grown steadily over the years. It has trained students from different secondary schools, including Gashora and Green Hills Academy in creative writing, performance art, and photography. The event is hosted on the last Wednesday of every month. And the Spoken Word Festival is held every year, to promote poetry and creative self-expression in schools.

Shad K: The Hip-Hop "Old Prince”

The talented hip-hop artiste MC Shad K grew up in Canada but his roots lie in Rwanda where his parents were born.  His debut album "When This Is Over” was released in 2005. The album was recognised for Shad’s self-deprecating lyrics and focus on social causes. In 2007, he was signed by Black Box Recordings and released his second album, "The Old Prince”.  

In 2008, he received a Juno Award nomination for Rap Recording of the Year, and was nominated for the 2008 Polaris Music Prize. The album was also nominated for two MuchMusic Video Awards. He released his third album, TSOL, in 2010 and it won the 2010 Polaris Music Prize, a 2011 MuchMusic Video Award, and Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year at the 2011 Juno Awards beating out Canadian compatriot Drake for the Juno. He has four albums to his name and was a highlight at the Kigali Up festival in 2011.  

Nicole Mutoni: The fresh sound of music

Nicole Musoni is a promising Rwandan singer, songwriter and composer based in Canada. She was born in Rwanda in a family of musicians and performers; her father Évariste Musoni was a popular Rwandan artist. She first performed with her father at the age of five at the famous Odéon Palace auditorium in Bujumbura, Burundi. She later got traditional Rwandan dance lessons from her mother when they moved to Canada and took part in her mother’s dance troupes. 

After participating in the Canadian music contest "Star Académie” in 2009, she sang backup for fellow Rwandan-Canadian soul and funk musician Corneille before dropping her debut single Rozay Sippin in 2011. She released "Chasin’ Dreams” Short Tape Chapter 1 in 2011 and "Chasin’ Dreams” Short Tape Chapter 2 was released last year.