Using music to fight genocide ideology

EASTERN PROVINCE NGOMA — A group of local musicians based in the Ngoma district have resorted to the use of music to fight the genocide ideology in the area.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

EASTERN PROVINCE
 
NGOMA — A group of local musicians based in the Ngoma district have resorted to the use of music to fight the genocide ideology in the area.

Aziz Shema, (Inspector Z) and Alphonse Muneza (M-naz) both in a group NGP (Nothing Good for the People) who recently committed to use their music talent to fight the genocide ideology, which they said was a hindrance to Rwanda’s development.

"If all the youth can say no to genocide ideology, then I think the future of our darling country is in safe hands,” says Inspector Z. The group is planning to tour different parts of the district starting next month.

In their tour dubbed, "Music in the fight against genocide ideology,” the group believes they can deliver the massage to fellow youth to eradicate the genocide ideology out of the district and the country in general.

"Being youth and also students, we think our message can be heard by many of our age mates,” the 20-year old Inspector Z says.

"Many people believe in messages given to them by their age-mates and we hope the youth will take our message of great importance, for their future good well being,” he adds.

The first show will be staged at the district headquarters’ main hall on a date yet to be set. The group has previously released songs which include, Tuzishimane (We will be happy together) Life for style, Mpenzi…which are largely love songs - currently hitting the airwaves of different radio stations in the country.

Before starting their tour, NGP hopes to have also released another album featuring songs like Amaraso…which attacks the past leadership that led to the 1994 Genocide. The song also calls on Rwandans to forget the past as they focus on the present and the future.

The group hopes to have released a remix for the  song Tuzishimane. The old song, according to NGP was formed to call on the youth to take an upper hand in the fight against genocide ideology.

"Music is one of the ways to convey a message to many people and we hope in this way our message will get into the ears of many especially Rwandans,” says 19-year-old M-naz, who is currently on his Senior Six vacation.

M-naz, is the second born a family of four.

"I used to see many people do wrong  but I could not get anyway to tell them,” says M-naz, who was brought up by his mother, after his father died when he was still young.

"Coupled with my love for music, I decided to join singing in order to extend my advice to such people who do what is against the well being of other people in the society,” says the Hip Hop singer. Commenting on the Rwandan music industry, M-naz says it is still down as compared to other East African countries.

"Rwandan music lacks support. It lacks promoters which other musicians in other countries have,” he says.

The group calls on all leaders and residents in Ngoma district to join them in their music tour to have their message heard and give them any support they can afford in order to make the campaign successful.

Ends