EVERY year when Rwanda commemorates the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, it serves as a reminder that the killers spared no one—not even the people whose music they enjoyed and danced to. 

Naturally, music appeals to all people across the board, regardless of skin colour, ethnicity or race, because music is a universal language.

As the late Dismas Mukeshabatware would put it, the seriousness of the Genocide can’t be emphasised enough, like with the act of killing musicians whose only crime was to entertain masses.

"They came for everyone. They didn’t even spare their favourite musicians,” recalled Mukeshabatware in an earlier interview, adding that one would imagine that artistes like André Sebanani and Cyprien Rugamba, who were crowd pullers then, would somehow survive.

But that was not the case. In fact, some of the most popular musicians at the time who were Tutsi were all killed—in some cases, entire bands or orchestras were wiped out.

According to the records held by the Association of Rwandan Musicians (LIRAM), at least 14 prominent musicians were killed in the Genocide, but the number could be higher.

The organisation says there were other performing artistes, perhaps little know, who were killed but not recorded as musicians due to limited technology at the time. Below are some of the artistes who were killed during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

André Sebanani

André Sebanani was the front man of Orchestre Impala. He is remembered for songs like ‘Mama Munyana’, and ‘Urabaruta’ among other songs. He was also an actor under the defunct Indamutsa Group.

Sebanani is described by other members of Orchestre Impala, such as Soso Mado, who sang with him in the 70s, as a talented, lovable and a jolly person who got along with everyone and always had a smile.

Cyprien & Daphrose Rugamba

Cyprien and Daphrose Rugamba were the true music power couple, whose humanitarian works still live on to date.

Rugamba is one of the most eulogised Rwandan music legends. He was a renowned author, poet and leader of Amasimbi n’Amakombe, one of the most popular music groups in Rwanda back in the day.

He was popular for his famous songs such as ‘Ubuhanga buhanitse’, ‘Inyigisho zo kubana neza’ and ‘ku muryango Nyarwanda’. They were both killed on April 7, 1994, along with some members of Amasimbi n’ Amakombe.

The Rugambas are remembered for their profound impact on people across all age groups through their work.

They were so popular that in 2015 they were declared ‘heroic in virtue’, marking the start of the formal process towards their canonization as saints recognised by the Roman Catholic Church.

Rodrigue Karemera

Rodrigue Karemera is among the prominent musicians who were killed during the Genocide against the Tutsi. He was known for his romantic song ‘Kwibuka’, ‘Urwibutso rw’Umutoni’, Ubarijoro and several others which made him a household name.

Karemera is remembered as a talented musician who used to sing in many languages such as English, Kiswahili and French.

His voice was described as very attractive and his compositions won him many fans while his music videos at the time proved his prowess.

Dieudonné Bizimungu and Agnes Uwimbabazi

Married couple Agnes Uwimbabazi and Dieudonné Bizimungu are also among the icons that were killed during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

Bizimungu and his wife Uwimbabazi gained the attention of the public because a couple singing together was not something you’d easily hear of the time. Those who watched them perform say their voices blended well.

Sadi Gatete, Loti Bizimana and more

Other prominent artistes who were butchered during the Genocide include, Sadi Gatete, who was a member of Orchestre Abamararungu, Loti Bizimana from Orchestre Ikibatsi and famous for his song called ‘Ntamunoza’, Eugène Rugerinyange of Orchestre Ingeli, Mimir Murebwayire, one of the few female musicians at the time and a member of Orchestre Les Citadins and Emmanuel Sekimonyo, famous for his stage name Manu Tabaro.

Loti Bizimana’s brother, Prof Pacifique Malonga, in a previous interview described his brother’s music as that that carried open-minded messages, as well as entertaining to the youth.

Bizimana’s songs such as ‘Ntamunoza’ were enlightening and reflected on what happens in day-to-day life in society.

Also, among those listed to have been killed during the Genocide are Saulve Iyamuremye, also a member of Indahemuka Choir, Berchmas Rwakabayiza and Jean de Dieu Kayigamba, both members of Chorale de Kigali and Bernard Kalisa from chorale Ijuru.

Saulve Iyamuremye and wife