Most Rwandans, especially those who follow ‘Ikinamico’, a programme aired on Radio Rwanda, have probably listened to plays written by Dieudonne Manishimwe, also known as Diego. 

15 of them including the ones he labels ‘most popular’ are ‘Karibu Mu Ihurizo’, ‘Amaribori Y’ikibero Ntakibuza Kubora’, ‘Ingirwamugabo’, ‘Inyagasambu Rirarema’ as well as ‘Ubushorishori Bw’ikinyoma’, and are known to be entertaining, educational and relevant to people’s daily lives.

"When I write about the life one lives, there are behaviours I need them to change for them to be better people. I talk about what society experiences so that people can find themselves in my plays and learn from them,” he says.

The playwright started his journey as an actor when he was in secondary school at Groupe Scolaire Bigugu, Nyaruguru District. When he joined university, he was also part of a theatrical troupe called Les Stars du Theatre.

He says that the idea of starting to write instead of acting came to mind when he was in Year 3 pursuing creative arts, where most of the modules he took reflected creativity; playwriting, screenwriting, novel writing, among other skills.

"At the time, I started thinking, ‘these things are not that tough; I can try’. So, I began to write some plays for Les Star du Theatre,” he says.

Later on, Manishimwe and his friends, Mugiraneza and Habaguhirwa, started a radio drama series called ‘Iriba’ which used to air on Radio Huye.

He notes that his love for storytelling compelled him to become a playwright.

"I like to tell and listen to stories. So, to learn about arts at the university was a pleasure and a chance to acquire the skills of writing stories in the form of theatre and to share them with community,” he says.

Manishimwe adds that he loves it when he wakes up the next morning after his play has been aired on radio; when people are sharing thoughts, repeating or arguing about the play’s conflict.

"Some are on my side as a playwright,” he narrates, "Others hate me, and others suggest what I should have done. Above all, I like the way people enjoy my plays and learn lessons from them,” he says.

He also acts in a popular radio play called ‘Urugamba Rugomba Umuco’ and different stage plays.

One of his favourite plays is ‘Karibu Mu Ihurizo’ which he says made him emotional when he was writing it, adding that it was also loved by many listeners who ranked it the best in 2021.

The play which is about two poor lovers; a boy from a poor family and a girl from the same state of family but with rich relatives. When the boy is requested for dowry by the girl’s family, he can’t afford it and opts to move to the city to find money. When he returns, he finds the girl wedding a rich man, influenced by her family. The girl sees him again and gets along with him. She confesses how she truly loves him.

Manishimwe has earned a living from his talent and has gained a lot socially and emotionally. The main challenge he still faces in the industry is that it is still young, and so people in it cannot grow bigger than it except for a few who work for some notable institutions like Urunana, Museke Weya and Mashirika.

"This makes it very clear that you can even have good plays but the problem of producing and broadcasting them deter you from benefiting from your creative works,” he says.

However, Manishimwe aspires to have an artistic institution to work hand-in-hand with other already established playwrights to level up the industry. He also seeks to have films from his plays.