Kigali Festival to host Enric Sifa

Enric Sifa is back in the country this time to perform during the Kigali Festival music concert this weekend.We remember him as Eric Nshimiyumuremyi, an artist who brought us “Birashoboka”, “Vihanze” and other musical sensations before leaving for the states in 2004.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Enric poses for a photo (Photo by H. Goodman)

Enric Sifa is back in the country this time to perform during the Kigali Festival music concert this weekend.

We remember him as Eric Nshimiyumuremyi, an artist who brought us "Birashoboka”, "Vihanze” and other musical sensations before leaving for the states in 2004.

Currently Sifa has recorded two new albums "Just a moment” and "My love” that have enjoyed good reception both locally and in the US.

Enric’s music journey was not always one of success; He is an orphan of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. At the age of nine his devastation led him to the streets.

Through Africa Life Ministries Sifa found ground of launching his music career. He immediately began writing songs, and at 14 he wrote songs like Sinjye Mwami and Vahanze.

Currently 22 year old Sifa has composed over 60 songs in both Kinya-rwanda and English.

He says that through his modern pop music he hopes to communicate a music of hope to all those who lives in situations that seem hopeless.

"I perform modern Christian pop, I sing to communicate a message of hope and a future so that through it people’s lives can be transformed positively,” says Sifa.

Sifa calls on to local Christian musicians to enlarge their vision and to continue producing music that encourages positiveness and hope in the society.

"Musicians should enlarge their vision and target the world and not just Rwanda, They should write songs in different languages to reach more audience,” Sifa says.

Sifa notes that he hopes to contribute to poverty eradication through his music benefits.

"I am involved in a scholarship program through New Life Ministries that offers sponsorships to students from poor families, I have also performed in events aimed at raising funds for the One Dollar Campaign,” Sifa adds.

Sifa will share stage with music artists like Nicole C Mullen and Building 429 during the Kigali Festival. He says that he hopes to be able to present his ten people band during this event.

Enric is currently attending High School in Oregon –USA.His dream is to become a global star and to take the message of hope to the rest of the world that needs it.

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