Assiel Mugabe on life as a gospel singer

Assiel Mugabe has marked a decade in music as a gospel singer. The 32-year-old juggles singing with teaching. He currently works at Integrated Polytechnic Regional Centre (IPRC) Kigali and holds a master’s degree in environmental science and a postgraduate diploma in irrigation and drainage. He shared his story with The New Times’ Julius Bizimungu. Tell us about your career in gospel music? I was born in a Christian family and my parents were members of Free Methodist Church. At the age of 5, I started singing in a children’s choir. When I became a teen, I joined the youth choir and later became the leader. In high school, I continued singing and learnt how to play a guitar. My talent was noticed when I was a student and choir leader at the former National University of Rwanda. This is where I started my gospel music career with the first audio gospel album Ntihinduka in 2004. In 2011, I did my second audio-video album Bera isi umucyo which was successful. I’m also finishing my third audio album Uri Umwami wanjye, which is expected to be launched in February 2017. You have been doing gospel music for almost a decade but we haven’t seen much of your music on the gospel music scene? The last years, I spent most of my time learning new things about my career like perfection in song writing, playing musical instruments, vocals, and making connections. I believe this is the right time for me to be more productive and make my dreams come true. Beyond doing music you are also a university lecturer, how does it feel like to do both? Music does not affect my academic load. I do it in my leisure time. Moreover, music is a good input to my intellectual, moral and spiritual performance. What drives you as a gospel musician? As a gospel musician, I’m driven by the mission of Jesus Christ of proclaiming his name among the nations. As far as technical side is concerned, passion, supportive wife, family and friends have always been pushing me up, even when I seemed too busy with academic work. What are the challenges faced by a gospel artiste in this country and how have you been advocating for the growth of this sector? A gospel artiste in Rwanda faces many challenges such as financial constraints, limited skills in music and poor marketing. I tried to raise up a young generation with different talents through a company Called Doxa Light Entertainment Ltd of which I’m a member. Where do you see yourself in the next three to five years? My plan is to do at least one big gospel concert per year, creating new connections and good relationship with other gospel musicians as well have my own music band, and a music production studio. I will keep praying and reading scriptures as I get new inspiration to write other new songs. What is your advice to the people doing music, particularly gospel? They should keep their passion and commitment, and should be ready to learn new things for the improvement of what they do. Above this, having a business plan of their music and working together is a tool to success. editorial@newtimes.co.rw