God gave Maniraguha a talented left hand

Serge Maniraguha is a folk singer, guitarist and painter -- three skills he acquired from his uncle, a veteran folk singer. Today, he runs his own art gallery in downtown Kigali, and as a musician, is working on his first full-length album due for release next year. Moses Opobo talked to him. How did it all start? I was born in a family of musicians. My uncle, Pascal Bushayija is a good musician and is one of the oldest musicians in the country. He was a good composer, guitarist and painter. He is the one who inspired me to like and do the same music and painting. Maniraguha with his favourite music instrument. (Courtesy) After primary school at Ecole Intwali in Kigali, I enrolled at Ecole d’Arts de Nyundo to learn music and painting in 1990. Although painting was the main course taught at the school, I learnt music as well because my uncle had instilled the interest in me. Unfortunately the school was forced to shut down because of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, so I was forced to relocate to another school, Ecole Technique de Muhazi. After graduating in 1997, I started doing a few contract jobs as a painter around town. When did you start singing seriously? I started singing in the ADEPR choir in Gacinjiro, where I was a singer and guitarist. However in 1995 I left the choir and recorded my first song, Mama, which enjoyed a lot of airplay on Radio Rwanda. What was the inspiration for Mama? I got the inspiration for the song after my uncle Bushayija lost his wife and was left with the children to look after. I saw how he struggled to be both a father and mother to his children, and this gave me the inspiration to sing about kids who don’t have a mother’s love. Any other songs to your credit? Some of my other songs are; Daddy, Muhorakeye, and Urahebuje. What is unique about Maniraguha the musician? Being a left-handed guitarist. All over the world, there are very few left-handed guitarists, and I think they are always very talented. What are you working on right now? A new 12-song album, which I plan to release mid next year. Already three of the songs are out, and all their videos will be out for my fans before this Christmas. I also recently opened up my art gallery at the UTC Towers, it’s called Jet Homa.

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God gave Maniraguha a talented left hand