Meet Yvan Buravan, Rwanda's fast rising star

Rwanda’s music industry is constantly growing, with the rise of many young people with talent and skills. Yvan Buravan is one of such rising musical stars making waves in the country’s music industry. He is the last born in the family of six; five sons and a daughter to Michel Burabyo and Elisabeth Uwikunda. Buravan went to Le Petit Prince and Ecole La Colombière for primary and secondary respectively. He later got admitted into the University of Rwanda’s College of Business and Economics. He is currently pursuing online studies in one of the universities in India. Asked when he started singing, Buravan said that started singing at a tender age. His love for music simply grew having the support from his family and friends, who encouraged him to follow his dream in music. The singer professionally plunged into the music industry in 2015, with the release of a featured song titled Injyana. Barely three years onto the music scene now, and Buravan has already captured hearts across the country and beyond with his incredible vocals and undeniable charm. Singing has really been identified as one key part of him that has grown immensely over time. Having no rest from his game, Buravan released Malaika last year, which is currently gaining air play on the major radio and television stations in the country, with more likes on YouTube by the day. “I took time to practice since the day I realised I had a musical talent, and by the time I felt ready after six years, I went solo from the gospel group that I was leading,” Buravan told The New Times, in an interview. “It then dawned on me that, since my days as a teenager, I had always wanted to sing and that is when I felt I should seriously consider music as a career,” he said. His music embraces the sounds of Afro, R&B and Soul. Buravan merges influence from the likes of Michael Jackson, Bruno Mars and Ed Sheeran, among many others. “But now I want to be ‘me’, not somebody else and I want to be a different person who can inspire others. I can only get inspiration from one’s music, regardless of who she/he is,” he noted. Buravan is currently in studio, working on his debut album which will be released soon. “I am busy working on my first album and it should be out soon. Right now, I’m on the last single, and the album will be complete,” he added. The 22-year-old said his music is inspired by the social life and the day-to-day experience of his family and friends. “I write my own songs and I am inspired by the day-to-day living of the people, especially young people. “I try by all means to avoid controversy and explicit lyrics, and want to send out conscious messages that help the youth to choose the right paths in their lives,” he said. Buravan’s popular songs include Bindimo, Injyana, Majunda, Urwo Ngukunda and Malaika, among others. The singer had the privilege of performing with international artistes like Kenyan afro-pop band Sauti Sol among others, and has worked with big names like Tanzanian bongo flava artiste Ambwene Allen Yessayah, also known as A.Y. Buravan is considered one of the country’s most popular newcomers and a rising star, who is destined for big things to come. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Meet Yvan Buravan, Rwanda's fast rising star