Entertainment events suspended as nation remembers Genocide victims

Starting today, entertainment related activities will be put on hold for a week as the country remembers the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. All music concerts, art, sports, beauty and fashion related activities will be postponed until the end of the commemoration week to mark the 21st anniversary of the Genocide. The week will be marked through different activities to honour the victims and also support the survivors. Primus Guma Guma Superstar Season 5 has already taken a break to allow the contestants join in commemoration of the Genocide which left over one million people dead. According to the organisers (Bralirwa), the 10 artistes taking part in the music show will be involved in a number of activities during the commemoration week. They will visit a memorial site and also engage in charitable activities aimed at supporting Genocide survivors. Over the weekend, the contestants delivered items to vulnerable families of genocide survivors in Bugesera district. Several musicians have also lined up different activities to pay tribute to the victims of the Genocide and survivors. Jay Polly has called on artistes to engage in activities that encourage and support genocide survivors. Speaking at an event organised by Touch Records on Saturday to raise money to support vulnerable families of Genocide widows, rapper and 2014 PGGSS winner Jay Polly said that the commemoration period is a time for musicians to give back to society. “We have to give back to society during the commemoration period. As a musician, ask yourself, what can I do for my society? What role do I play in rebuilding my country and comforting those who survived the genocide,” Polly asked. Several musicians echoed Jay Polly’s message, adding that all artistes should be volunteers in the different activities in their respective communities. Eric Senderi, who became renowned for singing genocide-related songs asked artistes to desist from charging organisers of activities under the pretext of asking for transport. “We know some cases where artistes over charge people organising commemoration activities under the disguise of transport or fuel refund, this should not be happening. Each one of us should be able to sacrifice the little we have to be part of these activities,” said Senderi. Similarly, Mico urged artistes to give back to society by attending commemoration activities in their respective communities, because “they have made money throughout the year, and the commemoration period is their turn to give back.” Each year, several artistes work with the National Commission for the Fight against Genocide (CNLG), to come up with a theme song for Genocide commemoration, which is normally unveiled during the commemoration week and it is used alongside existing ones. During the Genocide commemoration period, artistes are expected to honour musicians who were killed during the Genocide. According to the Association of Rwandan Musicians (LIRAM), at least 14 prominent musicians were killed during the Genocide but that the total number could be much higher if one was to include ‘underground’ or upcoming musicians. Among those who were killed is André Sebanani, who was the front man of Orchestre Impala. He is particularly remembered for his famous hits such as Mama Munyana, Urabaruta, among others. Others include, Sadi Gatete, who was a member of Orchestre Abamararungu; Loti Bizimana, from Orchestre Ikibatsi, Eugène Rugerinyange, of Orchestre Ingeli, Mimir Murebwayire, one of the very few female musicians at the time and a member of Orchestre Les Citadins, and Emmanuel Sekimonyo, famously known as ‘Manu Tabaro’. Cyprien Rugamba, one of Rwanda’s most eulogised artistes who was the leader of Amasimbi n’Amakombe, is among the most prominent Genocide victims. He was killed in April 1994. Saulve Iyamuremye, a member of Indahemuka Choir, Berchmans Rwakabayiza and Jean de Dieu Kayigamba, both members of Chorale de Kigali, and Bernard Kalisa of Chorale Ijuru, are among the other victims. Other prominent solo artistes killed during the Genocide include Rodrigue Karemera, remembered for songs such as Urwibutso rw’Umutoni and Ndakwibuka, as well as the musical couple of Agnes Uwimbabazi and Dieudonné Bizimungu. Several events to show genocide related films and documentaries have been organised in different venues. editorial@newtimes.co.rw