In Africa or the world over, it is common for women to put their dreams on hold when they get married, mostly to focus on the union and family. 

Take singer Clarisse Karasira, for example, who specialises in traditional music. She says it is true that women sometimes abandon their ambitions to focus on marriage and children, but it is all about personal choices.

"I have seen this among women I know or women in my community where I was born. There is a belief that there is no more dreaming for girls or women when they go into long term relationships or when they give birth.

"I am writing a book and I pray to God that I complete it soon, which should demystify the belief that girls can drop their ambitions when they get married. I will prove that it is possible to carry on with your dreams even when you get married or give birth,” Karasira says.

The singer, who tied the knot with her husband Sylivain Dejoie Ifashabayo on May 1 this year, says that she believes getting hitched will not interrupt her music career.

"I don’t think I can stop doing music because I am married. I was lucky to marry someone who loves music and supports me to grow. We have laid out a plan of how I will continue to do music alongside everything else.

"As I speak now, we have written many songs which I am currently recording and will be released soon. I want girls who follow me and watch me to know that they can do it,” Karasira says.

The 24-year-old encourages girls to be determined in whatever they want to do, citing her own musical journey as an example of how much she has had to put in to be where she is today.

"I receive calls from girls, some really very young, maybe in S.2, asking me how they can make it in music. My message is always you can do it but don’t rush it. Beyoncé didn’t wake up to be the superstar she is today,” Karasira says.

"I always encourage them to finish school first because most of them believe that music is a shortcut to success and think they can make it overnight. When it doesn’t happen as fast as they want, they end up getting frustrated or even used by people who promise them success,” she adds.

The "Gira Neza” singer believes the urge to succeed fast can be a major blow for girls and can crush dreams, but when one is patient, hardworking and stays grounded, they eventually make it. "I have been lucky. People received me well and appreciated what I was doing. I have earned a lot through music, not just financially, but also friends and people who look up to me,” Karasira, who started doing music professionally in 2018, says.

The singer, who released her new song "Nimukongeze” a week ago, says marriage has turned her life around, made her happier, especially when living with someone who genuinely loves and cares for her.

"Married life is very different from single life. All I can say is that I love it and enjoy every second of it,” she says, emphasising that if anything, it has been a boost to do even more in her career. She is currently working on her latest album, which she says will focus not just on Rwanda but the entire continent, encouraging people to love each other and put together their effort to develop themselves. "The album has about 12 tracks, all of which talk about Africa, the African woman, African parents and African society in general. It features different artistes from different African countries,” she adds.

Karasira believes in singing meaningful music, even though sometimes it might not appeal to young generations, but her aim is to make a difference in society through music.

As such, she will never divert to music that dwells on topics such as sexuality, similar to the songs hitting these days.

As a child, Karasira loved to sing and joined different choirs. She also studied music in secondary school before she joined Mt. Kenya University to pursue a course in journalism.

The Kicukiro-born singer says she dropped out the journalism course to focus on a different one at the Independent University of Kigali (ULK), which she is still pursuing. Karasira does not describe herself as a traditional singer, rather, it is a genre she chose because it appeals to her as she is passionate about Rwandan culture. Promoting Rwandan culture is a calling, she says.