Just Family is a group of four young males that was formed in 2004. The group is composed of Croidja (vocalist), Bahati (vocalist), M-Green (rapper) and Kim (dancehall). When they started, they were just miming songs of foreign celebrities like the late Michael Jackson and Usher and performing in shows as dancers. It was purely for entertainment though Kim and Bahati who were the original founders of Just Family scooped three best performers’ awards in the Coca-Cola competition from 2004 to 2006. By then Croidja and M-Green had not joined the group.

However, at the time, Croidja was a background vocalist for the internationally acclaimed Kidumu before joining Rwanda’s Dr.Claude. M-Green meanwhile was in a different crew which was known as Dru-Hill.

In 2007 M-Green and Croidja joined Just Family, bringing along experience and skills to the group. On 31st December 2007, the group headed to Burundi for their first major performance outside the country.

There they shared the stage with popular Burundian artist Lollilo. Croidja entertained the crowd with his popular songs of ‘Mama’ and ‘Hamida’. It was after this show that the four Rwandan youth decided to take their music seriously and start recording their own music.

They immediately signed with ‘One Way Production’ in early 2008 and released their debut single ‘shine’. They followed it up with ‘Mukobwa’ in May 2008 but unfortunately for them, they ran into financial difficulties.

The group did not break up though one of the members Croidja headed for Tanzania for greener pastures. The remaining members continued their music without Croidja albeit under financial constraints.

In October 2008, the group changed allegiance and joined ‘Celebrity Music Studio’.  It was from there that the group released their popular song ‘Musigeho’, a true story song about fathers abandoning their families which one of the members of the group experienced

They followed the song with ‘Turi umwe’ released in November 2008. The following month the three friends hooked up with Dr. Claude and released ‘Muhinduke’.

Early this year the group were on the move again this time going to Ruhengeri to link up with popular producer Mastola Frank who inspired them to produce the popular hit ‘Turiho’. The year 2009 has so far proved their most active.

In May they released ‘Wikwi heba’ and ‘Angela’ the following month. In August, the group released their first video which was for their latest song ‘Turiho’. The impressive video is currently at No. 5 at the top ten hot Rwandan videos.

Currently the group is working on the video for their latest single ‘Angela’ and their soon to be released single ‘Party’. They are also working on their debut album ‘Turi umwe’ which will be released in March.

They are also determined to take home awards, which are often organised at the end of the year by various stakeholders in the entertainment industry in Rwanda. Just Family’s real competition for these awards as they say is from The Brothers
Just Family has performed in various shows around the country and abroad including two major shows in Bujumbura.

 They have also been nominated for various awards including the Salax awards though they are yet to find the winning formulae which they say is soon. The group majors in afro dancehall mixed with some touch of R&B which makes their music unique.

The group signs off with an appeal to the government to give more support to the music industry as it has potential and it can help in the development of the country. They say that just like gorillas and baskets give revenue to the government so can music, giving an example of the victorious Alpha in the ‘Tusker Project Fame 3’ where he was taxed Rwf8 million.
Just family

Angelah

Intro CROIDJA:
uhh ..gatemusic kilulu nine, angelah eeh.

VERSE 1 :
angelah twareranywe uhora hafi yanjye 2x
kugeza aho nkwimitse mu mutima wanjye
Ibyanjye byari ibyawe nawe wari uwanjye
Baby wari ubuzima bwanjye
wansezeye umbwira ko ugiye kwiga
nan`ubu nta amakuru yawe mperuka 2x
Nibaza niba nzongera kukubona umutima wanjye
ukongera ugatuzaaa ohh angelah 3x baby angelah

Chorus:

Croidja: mbwira niba uzaza
All: angelah
Coidja: ube uwanjyeeeh
All: mbimenyeeeh
Coidja: kuza kwawee
All: ni ibirori njyewe nawe angelah 2x
VERSE 2 :

KIM :

ubuzima bwanje bwuzuye amarira n’agahinda
Angelah singisinzira kuv’umunsi ugenda
Dore mamy byananiye, angelah byanshobeye
Kubaho tagufite mamy wanje byananiye
Iminsi yose umutima wanjye ura dunda dunda
Kubera ko njye ngukunda kunda kunda
Say am a promise ever never make u bother
Broken adem is it blessed love will never park
Love love will never party do not want dem from the studem
Getting me confused I really gonna run mad and say
Yakayakayo, ah baby gal come back 2 me,
screamin baby baby come back 2 me now
baby gal come back 2 me
screamin baby baby come back 2 me now
yakayakayakayo eeh 2x

VERSE 2:

BAHATI:
Imyaka yaaye icyenda kuva wa munsi ugenda
Byananiye gusubiz’umutima munda
Ngerageza kwirengagiza ayo mananiza,
Nizera k’umunsi umwe uzangarukir’ukankiza
Tega amatwi umutima ubabaye kubwawe,
Tebuk’umpumurize ntarashengukaaa..

M GREEN:
Angelah nshaka ukuri kwawe angelah mbwiza ukuri
Wagiye unsezeyeh ugenda nk’aba massai
Nk’aba massai rwose nk’aaba massai
Umbonye masikini byatuma wibuka byinshi
Twasezeranye yuko tutazahemukirana
None dore kandi ni wowe ubitangiye
Narihanganye ariko njye byananiye
Ni history kwanza ibaho mu buzima
Reka reka mbireke ibyo ni iby’imana
Gentil stouta yoyo nziko byakubayeho nka Gilberto.

CROIDJA:
Ooh angelah,x3 baby angelaaah
Ending chorus