As Afrobeat and its variations continue to dominate airwaves and playlists across Rwanda’s entertainment scene, a new generation of music creatives is reshaping the music industry and at the forefront of this wave is Jovan Fils Muhirwa, better known by his producer tag Muriro.

Since venturing into music production in 2023, Muriro has quickly built a reputation for making Afro-centric beats that resonate both locally and beyond, with his signature touch heard on hits like ‘Shayo’ by Ariel Wayz and ‘Captain’ by Kivumbi King featuring Uganda’s A Pass. The two songs have not only topped the charts in Rwanda for a couple of weeks but also pushed the young producer into Rwanda’s mainstream music.

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His foray into music production started during his high school days where he discovered his knack for music through software like Virtual DJ and FL Studio, a move that transformed his hobby into a passion and eventually, a career.

"I was just a music guy doing school stuff back then, until my uncle introduced me to FL Studio. That changed my life,” Muriro told The New Times, adding, "I started watching YouTube tutorials and made hundreds of beats before I even stepped into a studio.”

In 2017, after sending some of his early beats to renowned Rwandan producer Nexus via Facebook, Muriro was invited to his first studio session.

That moment, he says, was the turning point that opened his eyes to the professional side of music production.

"The first time I entered a recording studio was in 2017. I sent my beats to producer Nexus on Facebook and he invited me over for a studio session. That session was a game changing moment for me and opened my eyes to make music professional," he said.

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For the past eight years, Muriro hopped from studio to studio, honing his skills and building a name for himself until he landed on an offer to join Jivah Records as an assistant producer, a move that pushed his talent to catch the attention of rising stars like Kivumbi King, with whom he recorded multiple tracks including ‘Jericho’, a standout song from Kivumbi’s debut album DID.

"In 2021, I met an investor who believed in my talent and supported me,” Muriro shares. "It wasn’t easy in the beginning, but soon artistes started gravitating toward my sound. That’s when we started creating hit songs like Jericho, Angel and Demon, and Shaya, which began to gain international recognition,” he further recalls.

Today, Muriro’s touch is behind some of Rwanda’s most popular songs, and his vision goes beyond making hits but also nurturing emerging talent and pushing Rwandan music to global platforms.

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Among the rising artists he's helping grow is DiceThePrince, whose tracks ‘Urimwiza’, ‘Tell Me’ and ‘Monica’ have become hits, introducing a fresh take on Rwandan Afropop.

"My dream is to see Rwandan music recognised internationally. I want to be one of the people who lay a strong foundation for our industry—someone who helps young artists rise, and shows the world that Rwandan producers can stand shoulder to shoulder with anyone, even in markets like Nigeria.”

Invest in Rwandan music

According to the young producer, despite the talent and creativity flourishing in Rwanda’s music scene, investment remains a big challenge halting the growth of the local music scene.

"Few people invest in music here. That’s a big reason our industry struggles to go far. Imagine if someone stepped up to help an artist collaborate with big international names. Just look at how Tanzanian star Diamond Platnumz rose after teaming up with Davido on Number One. That kind of collaboration changes everything,” he argued.

With more support, Muriro suggested, Rwanda’s music can rise not just regionally, but globally. And with producers who are open to create something different, that vision feels more achievable than ever.

Muriro continues to produce back-to-back smash hit songs and is set on uplifting the tempo of Rwandan music with his expansive catalogue.