For 40 years, celebrated Gakondo musician Alphonse Massamba Butera, known as Massamba Intore, has been a symbol of traditional music excellence. To celebrate the anatomy of his success story, a concert is set to take place at the BK Arena on August 31 this year.

Massamba affirmed that his show, dubbed "3040 Ubutore”, will not only celebrate his 40-year musical journey, but also aim to highlight the nation’s history through Gakondo that significantly contributed to the country’s 30 years of liberation—a feat most of his songs have preached and praised. "It wasn’t easy,” he said, "but our resilience got us here, firm in our stand.”

Massamba, 56, has delivered music with truth and vulnerability, with renowned songs like ‘Kanjogera’, ‘Araje’, ‘Uzaze Urebe’, ‘Ibimbabaza’, ’Mpinganzima’, and more, that later cemented his name in the Gakondo music arena.

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Born in Bujumbura, Burundi in 1969, to famed musician Anathase Sentore, Massamba first publicly performed with the troupe "Intore Indashyikirwa” at when he was only six years old, and went on to write his first love song at 17, ‘Ndi Uwawe’, that would later earn him the Best Young Artist award in Burundi.

His filtration into public notice came soon after with songs such as ‘Arihehe’ and ‘Nzajya Inama’, exhibiting the Rwandan traditional heritage and culture for all to hear. In his 20s, he turned to solo performance, perfecting his craft through a blend of traditional and modern music genres and engulfing traditional ‘inanga’ and ‘umwirongi’ with modern guitar and piano.

His use of such techniques and implements became part of a distinctive personal vocabulary, refined in several works that have elicited high-profile advocacy.

Celebrated and successful, Massamba soon faced a new foe — a gut-wrenching dark period for Rwandans was looming — the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.

In 1989, inspired by the hero Fred Gisa Rwigema, Massamba left university in Burundi—where he majored in Psychology, Sciences and Education—and joined other Rwandans in the liberation struggle. He put on his uniform, straightened his gaze, and together with the ‘Indahemuka’ troupe, set out to explain the liberation struggle to Rwandan refugees across East and Central Africa. He fought alongside the RPF-Inkotanyi, often boosting their morale with his brittle voice and charismatic smile, and later, to the rest of the survivors. But this would not be the only talent under his sleeves.

After the Genocide and Liberation, Massamba went on to act in various theatre plays and films, notably Romeo Dallaire’s ‘Shake Hands with The Devil’. Enlarged his portfolio coaching a Rwandan youth troupe in Belgium ‘Amarebe n’Imena’, and performed in nearly 120 festivals across the globe.

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With a determination to advance the Gakondo music industry in the country, the singer embarked on a new mission to discover and nurture the next generation of Gakondo musicians. Notable artistes such as Jules Sentore, Teta Diana, Ruti Joel, and Daniel Ngarukiye gained fame under his mentorship. Soon after, Massamba became the coach of the Rwanda National Ballet (‘Urukerereza’).

He released his first solo album ‘Masamba n’Indahemuka’ in 2002, and ‘Wirira’, produced in Belgium, won the Jeunesse Musicale award in Belgium. His third album ‘Nyeganyega’, solidified his reputation as a Rwandan music icon.

Singer-songwriter, actor, expert, and coach, Massamba, with four decades of beautiful music, invites us to the beginning—where he first fell in love with the art that touched our hearts and the uplifting soundtracks that have lifted us from sorrow to triumph.

"In our culture, our elders used to pass the baton to the younger generation for them to take charge,” Massamba stated, "In the same way, I believe it is essential for those who have lived and deeply understand our history to share it with the young ones so that they can continue preserving it.”

In his ‘3040 Ubutore’ concert, the artiste promises a celebration on all counts and dedicates the show to all Rwandans from all backgrounds, in hopes of fostering a love for traditional culture among the youth.

He will be joined by artistes including Ariel Wayz, Ruti Joel, Impakanizi (Iradukunda Yves), DJ Marnaud and DJ GRVNDLVNG.

The concert will not only honour Massamba’s acclaimed music career, it will also give culture music enthusiasts the ‘true’ picture of Gakondo music. with a vocabulary of his own.

The author is a music enthusiast.