RWANDAN MUSIC is rising at a good pace, thanks to Nyundo School of Art and Music that shaped some of the key players in this sector.

The school which was established in 2014 to promote and professionalize the art industry in Rwanda, is playing its role in bringing up top musicians like Igor Mabano, Ariel ways, and many others.

One cannot ignore the role it has also played in changing music production, by shaping music engineers and beat makers like Nillan YNB, Igor Mabano and Michael Makemba.

The school’s director Jaques Muligande. / Courtesy  photo

"This school promoted a diverse pool of talents in the music industry” says Alex Muyoboke, a music expert. 

"Since it was created, Rwandan music bands have merged unlike before, where almost all instrument players in Rwanda were from neighboring countries like DRC.”

In addition, he says, not only did it promote bands, it shaped and gave the music industry a gift of female producers, something which was highly needed in this country.

Adding to what Muyoboke said,  Jacques Muligande, the school’s director, also believes that the establishment of this school introduced live music in Rwanda, something which was only known to Congolese, Ugandans and Burundians based in Rwanda.

"Live music among Rwandans was weak, from the arrangement, to playing instruments. This school provided the best skills for live music which gave birth to bands like Symphony and many others,” he says.

 Igor Mabano training some of  the students.  File photo.

According to Muligande, writing songs is among the top things that this school achieved, where now musicians are able to write meaningful lyrics compared to before.

He told The New Times that all that is left to boost Rwandan music to a higher level is for the private sector to intervene in the music industry.

"I could give a good example of football. Without playing grounds, football can’t proceed to a certain level. We need private investors to trust our music and also get involved.”

"This could even lead to the opening of more music schools in the country than having only one,” he adds.

For Michael Makemba, former student of Nyundo and pioneer of Gakondo Fusion, Nyundo is the backbone of the new generation in music.

"Nyundo shaped young talents by teaching them music, something which was not here. Before, people used to wake up and start a career but now there is room for studying and doing something that you have learnt.”

In addition, he says, the school also introduced to the young generation traditional music, something that our singers lacked.

"Personally, I went to school with no skills or information about the traditional music of Rwanda.  With time, I learnt and started falling in love with it, which made me convert to a traditional musician.”

"It also shaped teachers who are also helping fellow musicians,” he added.

Chrisy Neat Beat, one of the few female producers in Rwanda, credits Nyundo School of arts and music for shaping musicians not only from Kigali, but other areas of the country.

She shared that before, top musicians were from the capital city. However, after the establishment of this school, talents were discovered from each and every part of Rwanda.

"Shaping talents from many areas made the industry gain more players and innovation,” she adds.

According to Chrisy Neat Beat, Nyundo School also contributed a lot in changing people’s beliefs towards music.

"Before, music was seen as a career of school dropouts and drug addicts. After the school was introduced, people started viewing music as a course like others where you can even sit for exams and fail,” she tells  The New Times.

Nyundo School of music was established in 2014 in Rubavu District before moving to Muhanga.  It has at least 100 students pursuing a three year music program.

It teaches vocal music, use of instruments such as [drums, piano, guitar, wind instruments, percussion and local instruments], and music theory, production, entrepreneurship, languages, and music history, among others.