Axelle Umutesi, is a radio presenter with Royal FM, a television host of K250 at Rwanda Television network and an events MC. She also loves travelling. Born and raised here in Rwanda, she attended her primary level and part of secondary in Rwanda before she moved to Uganda to continue her studies.

How did you get into the entertainment industry?

I have always loved entertainment and I come from a family that loves entertainment, my siblings and I grew up dancing the Rwandan traditional dance. I have aunties who were dancers too, my siblings and I always won dancing and acting competitions in schools. My dad is also passionate about the arts industry too, and when I showed interest he supported me.

I studied media at the university and my dream was and still is, to be a news anchor but when I finished school and returned to Rwanda, I chose not to join anchoring for personal reasons. I decided to join entertainment because it was a growing area and is still growing. I thought and knew, that I could contribute to the growth of entertainment and media at large in Rwanda. 

What has been the most fulfilling part of your job?

The connection I feel with people even before we meet, just by listening to me on radio every morning. I meet people at different events for my Television job,who are excited to see me and trust me with any information I need.

The nature of my job is something I also love. It helps me improve my skills and think outside the box on how to do things better. So I learn and grow every day.

What is the most difficult part of your job?

I would not call anything difficult in my job. I used to find things hard when I had just started but I outgrew most of what I considered difficult because as I said my job is about learning every day.

Someone once said that journalism leaves you with a scar whether emotionally or physically. It does not mean it’s a bad field but I believe scars are inevitable especially when you are pursuing your passion and the scars remind you how great you are.

But one of the hard things in the entertainment field here in Rwanda is sugarcoating things. I found it so hard to sugarcoat what’s happening out there in terms of entertainment/showbiz but I’m not a person who sugarcoats so I had to be myself and people would get used to me. May be something else I don’t enjoy, is that journalism is a 24/7 hour job which involves working on public holidays.

Who has been your biggest inspiration?

My father is my biggest inspiration yesterday, today and tomorrow. He will always be. I wake up every day and do what I do to make him happy and proud.

He has had the greatest impact on my life, has taught me so many moral values.  Most of all, he didn’t teach me how to live, he lived and let me watch him and I learned. I pray that I will carry on the same legacy to my kids.

There are lots of shows and websites covering fashion and entertainment. How does K250 distinguish itself from the rest?

K250 show is the only English lifestyle show we have that covers everything about lifestyle. People always referred to Rwanda as a boring country with no fun life.

We came to change that, we came to tell stories that are never told, to show what is not shown and tell it differently. We are always there to get exclusives for our audience. It is different because it is not only meant for the Rwandan audience but rather global as we want to show the world what we Rwandans are up to during our relaxing hours.

Another unique thing is the angle we always take, however much it’s all entertainment. We have a lot for you in store coming up in 2018 that has not been shown in Rwanda, I can only tell you to watch the space.

Where do you yourself in the future?

I want to keep growing and see the Rwandan media grow as well. I am still on your radios, televisions and events, as an MC for now. There is more coming but you will know when it’s time. I can only have my plans but God knows what’s best for me, I never enter doors He hasn’t opened. But I am definitely expanding.