Every successful story has its humble beginnings. The story of local artiste Emmanuel Kayitare, commonly known by his stage name Kayitare Wayitare Dembe is no exception. 

The singer has managed to beat the odds after being orphaned at a tender age. Born in Rakai District in Uganda, Kayitare was taken to Kasoga Baptist orphanage, where he was forced to learn that life is not a bed of roses but it is a constant struggle.

Kayitare, 30, recently revealed to The New Times, that his journey started with a humble beginning in the remote village in Uganda.

"It was difficult growing up. I didn’t have everything I wanted like most children. I used to envy kids with parents because I wasn’t lucky to have mine," Kayitare revealed. "As an orphan, I didn't expect to be served life on a silver platter; I struggled and worked so hard since I was young because there was no one to support me.”

While at Kasoga Baptist School, he was told by his teacher, a Rwandan called Mugarura, that his deceased parents were actually Rwandans— not Ugandans as he had thought. This devastated the little Kayitare because no one had ever told him about his true nationality and he had to trace his roots. When the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi ended, Kayitare made his way back home.

While in Rwanda, life became difficult but as a teenager used to hustling, he had to look for the means to survive as he tried to look for his relatives. He learned photography and that was his source of living those days. At the time, he had not ventured into music but had a great passion for singing.

"I went back to Uganda with a hope of joining Kadongo Kamu legend, Prince Bob Kafeero (RIP) of the Dipo Nazigara fame. However, after only one week, I became homesick and I returned to Rwanda and formed a group called Umucyo," he recalls.

Umucyo band was mostly composed of the youth in Gitega Sector and they would meet at Saint-Michel de Kigali during the weekends for rehearsals and other activities, such as drama, sketch drawings and theatrical plays.

Kayitare decided to join the army jazz band in 2000, teaming up with singers Sugira, Emmanuel and Viringiri. He later founded Amahoro, a non-profit organisation that supports disadvantaged children whose parents succumbed to the HIV-AIDS. The organisation supports over 5250 orphans.

In this venture, Kayitare gets support from other NGO's like; Imbuto Foundation, Chabha and Elma. By 2004, Kayitare was at the peak of his career; he released several singles including; East Africa and Abamaso meza, among others.

In 2010, he released a single titled, Sanyu, which is dedicated to his only child, by the same name and recently released another track called, Anitha, which talks about perils of love. Kayitare is currently planning to embark on a country music tour.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw