Scottish duo to release a commemoration song

Two musicians from Scotland are in the country to record a song for the 20th commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsis next year. Iain Stewart and Keith White say that they feel honoured to be in the country at the invitation of Kora award-winner and peace ambassador, Jean-Paul Samputu to record the song that talks about compassion, peace and love.  The song titled, “Window of Hope” will be recorded in Buddies Studio in Kacyiru.

Monday, September 23, 2013
(L-R) Keith White and Iain Stewart at Buddies studio. The New Times /Courtesy.

Two musicians from Scotland are in the country to record a song for the 20th commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsis next year.Iain Stewart and Keith White say that they feel honoured to be in the country at the invitation of Kora award-winner and peace ambassador, Jean-Paul Samputu to record the song that talks about compassion, peace and love.  The song titled, "Window of Hope” will be recorded in Buddies Studio in Kacyiru."We have come here to show the world how music can be used to spread the message of peaceful co-existence. We have also come to show the people of Rwanda that the world is with them as they wait to commemorate 20 years after the Genocide,” says Stewart.Stewart is also the Secretary General of Edinburgh Interfaith Association, whose mission is to promote peace and harmony between the various religious and non-faith communities of Edinburgh and across the world.He says that he started singing when he was still young in  a church choir. "I feared that my love for music would interfere with my studies. That’s why I first ensured that I completed my studies before taking up singing once more.”A biology teacher, Stewart says that he was influenced to take music more seriously by his friend and partner, Keith, himself an accomplished guitarist. Keith says that "Window of Hope” is going to be moulded in the same fashion as, ‘‘U.S of Africa’’ song that brought different musicians in United States together to raise awareness and help the victims of the 1984-85 famine in Ethiopia that caused an estimated one million deaths and made millions more destitute.He says the song will have the capacity to raise awareness about children, who are still suffering from the devastating consequence of the Genocide because they don’t have families."We will try to raise funds from the song to help the children who are still suffering from the consequences of the Genocide. This is a Rwandan project and we will ensure that it helps the children of Rwanda,” Keith states.He adds that when they go back to Scotland, they are going to ensure that as many people as possible know about the status of some of Rwanda children who were unfortunate to lose their family members. "We realise that the family bond in Rwanda was grossly interfered with during the infamous turmoil of 1994. Family members were separated from each other, while many lost their lives. We will try to give a number of such children some hope,” Keith concludes."Window of Hope” is a fusion of jazz, Hip-hop and gospel music and they are also going to bring in the African touch to it.