When he first came to Rwanda from Uganda in 2006, art was not among the career options on his mind. In Uganda, Tutu Emmanuel Semutwa had been a budding footballer playing in the first division. Ten years on, he is among the eminent visual artistes at the Kacyiru-based Inema Arts Center. Sunday Times’ Moses Opobo traced his journey into the world of painting…

Coming to Rwanda in 2006, what did you immediately embark on?

I started off by managing Narrow Road Productions, a music studio based in Gikondo, and owned by my young brother Ezra Kwizera who is a gospel artiste.

How then did you end up in art?

One day in 2008 I met Innocent Nkurunziza, the brother to Emmanuel Nkuranga of Inema Arts studios. He told me to pay him a visit at his workplace where he did his paintings, which was Ivuka Arts Center at that time. When I went there I immediately fell in love with what they were doing, and since then I have never looked back. 

I taught myself how to paint, and I’m very grateful for Innocent who encouraged me to take up art as a profession.

Briefly describe those very first days as a painter

By the time I was introduced to painting I had a lot of stress and personal problems. Innocent encouraged me to paint, saying that art heals. The next day he gave me canvass and a brush, and I started painting right away.

That very day, I sold a piece at US$100!

Wow! What was that first painting about?

It was a painting of a woman carrying a baby on her back and a basket of tomatoes on her head. The title of the painting was ‘Mobile Market’. Since then women always dominate my paintings, and it is what has given me a name as an artist, so I don’t intend to change that.

How then did you end up at Inema?

Well, Innocent and his brother left for the US and came back with the idea of expanding. They organized a meeting and asked if I would be interested in coming along with them. I went and asked my mother for advice because she is my chief advisor.

My mother encouraged me to make the move, and told me that they (Innocent and Emmanuel) were focused and positive. Although I’m older than both of them, I can say that they have been my inspiration and changed my life for the better.

They are direct, and their leadership is positive. Since I started painting they have always encouraged and pushed me. Other artistes usually have big egos which is not the case with these guys.

What does it take to be a renowned artist?

An artiste must be creative at all times, but in a positive and not negative way. Everything in life is art, but how you bring it out to attract and change people is what matters. Real art is from the soul.

Finally, tell us what’s cooking in your pot this year

This year I have three shows, all in the US. The first will be in Virginia in September, where I will go with fellow Inema artist Timothy Wandulu. Together we will be sharing our story as self-taught artistes. We will also offer art classes at two universities in Virginia. In all we will spend four weeks in Virginia, then we will fly to Boston in October, and our last engagement will be at the George Fox Art Gallery in Chicago. 

Before this year’s upcoming trips, I had never flown out, although my works have been representing in countries like England, Germany and Scotland, where people have been taking my paintings and selling them. 

I can confidently say that art changed me. It healed me. Before, I had no balance in my life. I would spend a lot of my time in bars, but now I only go there once in a while, and for a purpose. I’m no longer available to negative people. Without patience you can’t survive in art. I am thankful to God because I’m able to sell my paintings.