IN 2018, Active Group’s lead singer Derek Sano joined Nyundo School of Music to learn more skills that can help him grow his music career. Since then, Active did not remain the same and the group’s music activities began to wane.
Speculation has been rife that the singer had planned to pursue a solo music career and leave the band to Tizzo and Olivis, when he started to release his own songs without the consent of the group as his fellow member Tizzo claimed.
Tizzo also said that he and Olivis were surprised when Derek dropped his own songs, adding that he did not know about Derek’s new songs till he released them.
Dondada Entertainment boss Donat Knaymahanga (L) announced Active as the management's new signings2-courtesy
"We asked him about his new songs and we got the same answer he gives in the media. But if a person takes a decision you support him and we are supporting him though we were surprised. Everyone has a way of doing his own things. So what you do is to respect his decisions,” Tizzo told The New Times back then.
The singer, however, always distanced himself from the split rumors and made it clear that he was still committed to contribute to the group’s music development as has been the case since the group started in 2013.
The comeback!
A number of media reports suggested that the group had split up given the fact that for a long time, they hadn’t been releasing songs.
However, to the surprise of many showbiz journalists, Tizzo joked that they were just teasing the media to overcome their pressure, when the trio showed up together and dropped a new Extended Play (EP) ‘Activity’ together, which put an end to rumour surrounding their relationship.
"The truth is that we did not part ways. We just took a break to brainstorm how things should go better than before. We are doing music as a business and we had to look at strategies to make more returns from our music as a band,” said Tizzo.
"Derek wanted to improve his skills in music, Olivis took enough time to work on his choreography skills and I was also busy learning new things on how better I can write the band’s songs, and here we are. We know we have not been in action for some but it had nothing to do with the split because we were brainstorming ideas on how to do our things better,” he further explained.
The trio will now be doing music under Dondada Entertainment, a new management company which deals with artistes and talent management, digital communication, public relations, project management, corporate branding and events planning, among others.
They will spend six years with Dondada Entertainment, as per the agreement. They look forward to a new journey that will bring them back on track and deliver beyond their music supporters’ expectations.
While unveiling the group as their new signing on Tuesday, November 2, the management company told the media that they never doubted Active’s talent, potential and brand they have established in the music industry over the years, when they decided to sign them under their management.
"There is an image they have in Rwandan music and they can hopefully maintain it under our management,” assured Dondada CEO, Donat Kanyamahanga.
Active’s new journey under Dondada Entertainment officially puts an end to the band’s contract agreement with New Level, which according to Tizzo, initially ended in 2019.
The group now embarks on a new journey together with a new EP dubbed ‘Activity’ which comprises three songs namely ‘Amabara’, ‘Madamazela’ and Tequiero. The EP is already available on different online music platforms like iTunes, Spotify and Amazon among others.
The latest concert that people could again see Active performing together is a virtual performance for the routine Iwacu Muzika festival, during which the trio will headline on Saturday, November 6, live on Rwanda Television.