The struggle to liberate Rwanda from the genocidal regime was carried out on different fronts; some people provided the means to fight, others went to the battlefield while others played their part vocally.

Today, July 4, as the country marks 21 years of liberation and end of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, The New Times looks back to reflect on the role of art, especially music, in Rwanda’s liberation struggle.

Music was a major component of the liberation struggle and its role was significant.

Musicians were among the heroes and heroines who courageously joined the struggle and liberated the country from a genocidal regime had presided over the slaughter of over a million of its people.

Among others, the artistes’ role was to solicit for funds through performances, to inspire and encourage Rwandans in exile to love their country and keep the Rwandan culture alive.

Born in Kibungo, current Ngoma District, Maria Yohana Mukankuranga composed her first song about the struggle,Inkotanyi z’Amarere, in 1990, which she followed up with the famous Intsinzi bana b’u Rwanda in 1992.

The veteran singer says that her songs and those of others boosted the soldiers’ morale on the battlefield.

"Our music conveyed the message of hope and cultivated the spirit of patriotism, which motivated the young and old to join the struggle.”

Mukankuranga joined Rwandese Alliance for National Unity (RANU), which later metamorphosed into the Rwanda Patriotic Front, in 1985.

In 1991, the RPF movement formed a traditional dance troupe called Indahemuka, with the aim to mobilise resources to support the struggle and to instil the spirit of patriotism among Rwandans in exile, and Mukankuranga was one of its pioneer members.

The troupe consisted of Rwandans from Uganda, Burundi, Tanzania, Kenya, DR Congo and other countries.

Indahemuka recorded several songs which were performed in concerts. They also sold the tapes to raise money to support the liberation struggle.

"During the struggle, cadres went around mobilising others—and we belonged to the same category, only that for us we did our work through music,” explains the soft-spoken Mukankuranga.

The 72-year-old singer, whose two sons died in the liberation war, says she penned down the lyrics because of the pride and faith she had in the men and women in the struggle.

"We fought to survive and resolved to consolidate efforts to return back to Rwanda. Everyone sacrificed according to their capacity. The death of my two sons on the battlefield made me more patriotic and gave me the courage to continue with the struggle.”

Her songs such as Turatashye inkotanyi z’amarere, Mureke mbabwire inzozi narose, Urugamba rurashushye and Intsinzi bana b’u Rwanda are still popular among Rwandans both at home and in the Diaspora. She composed most of the songs by herself and some with the help from her children and husband.

Mukankuranga was one of the two musicians, who were awarded medals by Rwanda Defence Forces in 2007, for their bravery and resilience in the campaign to liberate Rwandans.

Pioneers

Some of the singers that composed songs during the liberation include Mukankuranga, Aimable Twahirwa, Patrick Gihana, Albert Mwanafunzi, Minega, Kamaliza, Minani Rwema, Kalinganire, Jean-Marie Vianney, Aline Mukantabana, Louise Uwantege, Florida Mukabaranga, Doe, Sankara, Eric Gasana and Angel Ntamanyoma.

Legacy

In order to leave a legacy, Mukantabana started a cultural troupe, where she grooms the youth to preserve the Rwandan culture through music. She teaches them traditional songs and dances.

"At this age, all I wish is to plant the spirit of patriotism in the young people because they’re the future of our nation. I want them to love the country and keep the Rwandan culture alive. I do this for free because this is the only gift I can offer to the young people,” she says passionately.

She said that she will keep on helping the youth to promote culture through music, and other various arts.

Intore Masamba is a renowned singer and son to legendary musician, the late Athanase Sentore Rwagiriza. He says the injustice they suffered in exile and his father’s patriotism inspired him to join the struggle.

"I grew up in Burundi where we suffered a lot. Our parents suffered and it was difficult for refugee children to enrol in school. In order to be admitted into high school, you had to have 80%, while for the Burundian students it was 50%,” says Masamba.

"My father used to tell me that we would return to our country and he would compose liberation songs every month. One day I asked him, ‘father, you always say that we are going to return to Rwanda, it’s now 30 years and we haven’t returned.’ But he told me that the time would come and we would return,” he recalls.

In 1989, Masamba acquired a visa to Europe. "I had two choices: to either go to Belgium and continue with my studies and music or, join the liberation struggle. I decided to abandon the opportunity and went to Uganda where I joined the RPF-inkotanyi,” he said.

The founder of Gakondo Cultural Troupe adds that while others were on the frontline, the contribution of those who were singing was equally important.

"The gun alone was not enough, for it does not speak. Music, therefore, played an important part. It made people understand what they were fighting for and why they were fighting. It added to the amount of information that was already available,” said Masamba, before adding that, "What some people don’t realize is that music fits anywhere, even in the battlefield. Songs like, Fourteen, Kibonge, Moto utawaka, were used as morale boosters and helped our soldiers to carry on.”

Masamba says that liberation struggle was well organised and people donated clothes, food and money. "We used different strategies to raise funds. The first fundraiser was held at Makerere University (in Uganda) and it was followed by several others in different parts of the country and sometimes we would host fake wedding meetings to mobilise funds.”

In 1990, a major fundraising campaign was held at Lugogo Stadium in Kampala that marked the start of the struggle. "This was to tell people that we’re now ready, let’s go,” Masamba adds.

The soloist, who joined the struggle in his early 20s, says he feels proud and blessed to have dedicated his youth and talent to the struggle to liberate Rwanda. He admits that after a long and tiring liberation struggle, he was saddened to find his beloved country filled with lifeless bodies and agony, thanks to the genocidal regime. 

Masamba has a number of songs that were inspired by the liberation struggle, which include Ushengurukanya isheja, Kigali uteye neza, and Inzovu, among others.