Jody Phibi, real name Phoebe Muyoboke, is not new on the Rwandan music scene. Her music is popular in Rwanda and neighbouring countries.

Jody is signed under Kampala-based Platinum Entertainment Record label owned by Shadrack, one of Uganda’s renowned music producers. Among her popular hits is Better than them, Karimo, and Tenderness.

While she managed to churn out several songs that made her a household name, it was a feat that required dedication and sacrifice. She had to trek between Rwanda and Uganda very often to produce and promote her music while at the same time juggling it with studies back home.

At some point, the Birandenga singer had to put music on hold and concentrate on her studies first.

"I was missing a lot in school and sort of lagged behind because I was distracted by music. I had to settle back home to be able to finalise with my internship and focus on graduating, putting everything on hold, including a chance to compete in Primus Guma Guma Super Star competition,” Jody says.

However, she says that it was in Uganda where she made a break through.

"Uganda gave me a bigger platform and it is where I first got my biggest payment from music. It was a good experience for me because I got connections and my music was pushed to another level,” she says.

In Uganda she was also signed to a charity organisation called Reach a Hand Uganda (RAHU), a non-profit youth led organisation that aims to address the key health issues affecting the youth such as HIV/AIDS and sexual reproductive rights, drug abuse and fighting teenage pregnancies among other thing.

Her efforts paid off and she graduated from College of Finance and Banking.

With books now done, she has decided to resume recording but this time at home.

Jody is eyeing a deal with NEP Records to record her songs but first she wants to concentrate on building her platform and brand before embarking on a countrywide tour to reinvent herself on the Rwandan music scene.

"I am now doing music professionally as a career to take it to another level because I know it takes a lot of commitment and hard work as well as sacrifice,” she says.

"I recorded Birandega and Madina immediately after school and I see hope because I have so far received good feedback,” she says.

Her genre of music is Afropop that she at times fuses with soft reggae, RnB and dancehall.

"My music will change but I will be the same because there is so much I hadn’t shared with people and I feel I have grown. There is also so much that I need to know because it determines the kind of person that I am,” she says.

The 25-year-old first realised her talent and passion for singing in 2008 while still in high school and had her first single Njye nawe in 2012. Later she recorded several singles including intera, Tenderness, Ndacyashidikanya.

She has performed at big events such as the KigaliUp festival, Jungle party in Gisenyi, where she sang alongside Keko and Cindy of Uganda, and Museto East Africa in Kenya.

She has also worked with some of the big names in the industry across the region, which she attributes to her character as a "go-getter”.

Despite all this, her musical journey hasn’t been all rosy. 

"How we are perceived in the music industry as women is a bit extreme and exceptional. Some people want to take advantage of us because we are women,” she says.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw