She has ultimately became one of Rwanda’s RnB heavyweights and one of Hillywood’s dearest actresses. Sunday Times’ Emma Prince talks to Ruth Nirere, better known as Shanel to let her fans know more about her.

TST: Who is Shanel?

Shanel: The most down to earth girl you will ever need to know, Rwandese song bird and actress.

TST: How do you spend your day?

Shanel: I say thanks to Jesus in the morning; take a warm bath and then light breakfast. I have a different agenda for different days, which always end with a prayer before going to bed at around 10 pm in the night.

TST: Ndarota has captured the air waves since the time you released it up to date. How were you able to do it?

Shanel: I always believe it was and still is God’s work, and I always thank Him for that every single day of my life. Of course, you have to take your time, be sure that you are writing, singing and releasing the right thing. But you have to wrap it up with help from up above.

TST: Is the song real…. is there someone?

Shanel: Oh no, the song isn’t really about me. There is no that ‘someone’, I only wanted to sing about love and I came up with that.

TST: How would you define your Mr. Right?

Shanel: He ought to be affectionate and understanding. He’s got to have vision and of course he should be a hardworking gentleman. That’s the man of my dreams.

TST: Tell me about your new album?

Shanel: I named it Ndarota and it comprises twelve songs. Some are my old singles, but most of them are not yet on air, and it is going to be launched soon.

TST: About the theatre, do you have anything in store for your fans?

Shanel: Sure!  We have a new movie LE JOUR OU DIEU EST PARTI EN VOYAGE, which literally means The Day God Walked Away. We have been to many countries around the world promoting the movie, and I am in fact flying to Greece next week on the same mission.

TST: If you were speaking to many young Rwandan girls who look up to you as their role model, what would the message be?

Shanel: I am proud to have a number of young girls who look up to me, and I would do anything possible to make sure they are in the right direction, doing the right thing in the right place and at the right time.

They have to use the special talent hiding inside them, and please ignore the fact that they are females because showbiz has no boundaries. Education is the main key to success and it can take you to the heights, plus hard work of course! 

TST: Thanks for your time with us Miss Shanel, and we look forward to your new works.

Shanel: Thanks Prince and TST, I am honoured.

Ends