You may probably have missed her adorable voice for quite some time but Rwandan singer and song-writer Rita Ange Kagaju is embarking on a comeback after a three-year hiatus. The ‘No offence’ singer, who rose to fame in 2017 through “I'm the Future” music competition and swiftly embarked on a solo career a year later, has been pursuing her studies in the United States since 2021. After graduating with three degrees in Sociology, Environmental Studies, and Global French Studies, the 23-year-old is ready to reconnect with her fans and share her growth both personally and professionally. ALSO READ: Meet Kagaju, the 17-year-old songbird A journey of growth and discovery In an exclusive interview with The New Times, Kagaju opened up about how her time off the music spotlight influenced her artistry. “I think it affected my music in terms of consistency,” the singer admitted. However, she emphasized that her experiences abroad have enriched her music perspective. “I encountered different life experiences that have allowed me to grow as a person, see a much fuller picture of society and its nuanced functionality.” These experiences have provided her with a wealth of material to write and sing about, even if many of her new songs remain in her phone’s notebook for now. “I can say that the artist in me grew from the inside, but not necessarily professionally,” she said. “I now hope that as I become more available, I can find a team of motivated individuals with interest and can work with me to turn this personal artistic growth into something digestible, ready to be shared with whatever audience I have left,” she added. Balancing studies and music Balancing academic engagements with a music career is normally not without its challenges and it was no exception for the U-based singer. Kagaju admits it was difficult to find time to focus on creating while simultaneously juggling academic and other personal commitments and obligations. However, she said, the need for peace, space, and time to build that conducive creative environment, elements that were often hard to come by during her college years. ALSO READ: Meet Ange Ritha Kagaju, 17-year-old girl talented vocalist/singer Personal and professional growth The ‘Sweet Thunder’ composer’s time in the U.S was transformative. She faced the challenges of cultural transition and found herself questioning long-held beliefs. “The cultural transition was difficult and most things about the American way of life and that challenged core beliefs I had held about reality and society,” she explained. This period of adaptation and self-discovery led her to develop qualities such as resilience and patience. “I learned more about myself, capitalized on qualities I already had and developed those I didn’t know I could, such as resilience and patience. I also grew to love and appreciate my country more,” she said. “I studied Sociology and always chose to research and capitalize on Rwandan culture and history as I picked my research topics or what to study,” she shared. Reconnecting with fans Despite the music hiatus, Kagaju made efforts to stay connected with her fans through social media. “I do have Instagram and a few people reach out so many times asking for new music,” she noted. These interactions, though sporadic, helped her keep her audience abreast while it also reminded her of their endearing support. Overcoming past challenges In July 2021, Kagaju released her debut album Sweet Thunder. The 16-song album was recorded at Ida Records, a record label under which the singer was signed to. People were in awe of the tracklist but its power play and distribution was limited due to fact that it lacked enough promotion from the singer and her management as a whole. Kagaju admits the Covid19 and moving abroad for studies affected her album promotion but, still, insists that people loved it. “I think it was as successful as it could have been. I released it a few days after going abroad for studies, and we were at the height of COVID, and people still showed support” she recalled. The break is over! Looking ahead, Kagaju revealed that she is about to resume her music as she embarks on new releases. “I am trying to release an album soon, of a few songs I recorded about one or two years ago,” she said. Following this release, she plans to focus on creating music that resonates with her current life experiences. “I feel like a lot of people will find it more relatable than this album that will be out soon.”
