‘Iganze Gakondo Group’ (Ibihangange) is a new cultural troupe whose members share a mission to preach and attract more youth to embrace the Gakondo genre. Their brand-new song ‘Gakondo Yacu Iganze’, explains it all.

The song, which was released last week, is the group’s second as they look to produce more songs in 2021 and dominate the genre in the near future.

Founded in 2019, the troupe comprises nine members, who include three instrumentalists (a guitarist, a pianist and drummer) and six singers who often mix vocals with traditional music instruments like ‘inanga’, whistles and horns, among other instruments.

Most of the members were raised and nurtured under the tutelage of different renowned cultural troupes including Inganzo Ngari, Urugangazi, Ababerewe and Gakondo Group among others.

Samuel Masengesho, the troupe’s spokesperson tells Weekender that he and his compatriots jointly founded a cultural troupe because they had a shared mission to use their talents to preserve Rwandan culture through music.

Through their music, Masengesho says that the troupe wants to play their contribution in making sure that culture becomes a norm for the young generation that is attracted to western culture.

"Our wish, as youth, is to play our role in promoting Rwandan culture more than our parents and grandparents did through their music.

"We share love and passion for this kind of music because we grew up in families that would inspire us to embrace and love traditional music. Now we want our fellow youth to preserve it so its identity remains secure,” he says. 

What makes the troupe different from others, he adds, is that they also perform other music genres so as to attract young people. 

"Our performances keep our entire audience, of all age groups, entertained and on their feet regardless of the genre,” he says.

Rwanda’s cultural music gets better each day and for Masengesho, it’s a big boost for the genre because a number of young artistes are doing music inspired by Rwanda’s tradition.

 "That’s actually where the idea of our latest song ‘Gakondo Yacu Iganze’ came from because we want it to spread even beyond the borders,” he says.

As is the case with other artistes, the Covid-19 pandemic was a big challenge for the troupe, both financially and musically, as they can’t perform for their audience at concerts and weddings.