RataJah Naychah, real name Columbus Nduwayo, is a gospel singer, music composer and instrumetalist who had a horrendous upbringing after he lost both his parents to cancer when he was just.

His background, however, did not stop him from evangelizing using his passion; instead, it created a clearer goal for his ministry.

"I went through a lot, but God was faithful to me. I was tempted severally as a young person, but God provided for me in a way that I could not imagine. So I am a living testimony. When I sing, I am testifying about my life,” he said in an exclusive interview with The New Times.

Exploring different genres

His experience as a worship leader encouraged him to explore other genres in gospel music.

Growing up, RataJah was mostly taught traditional music and Gospel songs that were sang in church services.

He started his music career in 1998 after getting saved, and is currently, a worship team leader, music composer and an experienced drum player.

A businessman on the other side of life advanced, RataJah’s career as a member of Justified Band that featured famous music stars like The Ben and Lick Lick, among others, but started his solo career in 2010.  

After becoming a born-again Christian, he realised a problem in church services. The majority of the youth were not enjoying the music played at church services and he wanted to change this so they could enjoy coming to church.

"I wanted to create a divine environment for the youth in the church. Why are young people lost in church? Because of the old genres that they cannot relate with. That is why I try to infuse genres, to make them feel like they belong and comfortable in churches,” he explained.

The Hindura hitmaker quoted Bible verses explaining that whether you are a Greek or Jew, circumcised or not, Jesus is for everybody.

"Jesus cannot praise himself. What pleases him is seeing people doing that in every area of life, and not just in one genre. God loves diversity, so we should endeavor worship him in different ways genres,” the 30-year-old added.

That is how he came up, as an artist, with different genres, Reggae, Dancehall, and contemporary afro fusion, for his songs namely; Ukiwa Nami, Hindura and a collaboration Faith Mussa, Imigongo.

A current worship leader at Women Foundation Ministries, he recounted how some believers neglected some of his songs, calling them secular.

"But as for me, any genre which glorifies and honors God, it is okay”

The young man who considers music as his daily routine has future prospects of becoming a global musician impacting the community using the youth, whom he considers as veins and arteries of society.

His stage name RataJah is a combination of Kinyarwanda and Hebrew to mean ‘Praise God.’