Ibrahim Cyusa, a budding traditional music singer and dancer, and his Inkera traditional dance troupe, early Thursday morning released their first ‘gakondo’ (Rwandan traditional music) song as a Valentines Day gift for fans. The love song, ‘Umutako’, became an instant hit with his fans on YouTube. “The audio went on YouTube at 1am in the morning. I started with the audio and the video will come later as I want fans to first enjoy the song. It is my first professional production,” Cyusa said. “Right now I just want to work harder and produce more music. Very soon I will release another song called Ndi Umunyarwanda about patriotism, in not more than two weeks. Later, I will release one on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.” The video of his ‘Umutako’ song, Cyusa said, will be released soon after the commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi as he is busy preparing a song for the commemoration too. Cyusa is highly regarded by traditional music icon, Butera Masamba Intore, commonly known as Masamba Intore. The talented 29-year-old half-brother of Rwandan-born Belgian star, Stromae – real names, Paul Van Haver, is, according to Masamba, destined for great things because he loves gakondo so much. Cyusa is the son of Pierre Rutare, a victim of the 1994 Genocide who was a dedicated basketball fan and architect who designed and set up the first model of the roundabout in the centre of Kigali. Though ‘Umutako’ is his first professional production, Cyusa in October 2015 co-produced an audio song called ‘Izihirwe’ with Charles Uwizihiwe, another budding gakondo artist. I composed Izihirwe as a dedication for my grand mother who I owe so much and who also encouraged and supported my passion for gakondo at a tender age. Cyusa who quit a bank job in 2017 to concentrate on his passion – gakondo music – has, so far, composed 14 songs. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
