I'm a proud Rwandan, Scupaa Knight confesses

This Brooklyn-based artiste originally hails from Uganda, born to Rwandan parents in 1982. At the age of 10, Scupaa Knight already knew that he wanted to become an entertainer. “I cannot forget my originality which is Rwanda because if the song Mateteri and 101 FM made me famous, so how should I forget my roots. Apart from promoting my music in the country, I want to participate in the country’s development by promoting charity projects and business activities,” Scupaa told The New Times. Scupaa has established projects in the U.S; two houses in the U.S and another one in Texas, expensive cars and a record label called Scupaa Records. At a tender age of 13, Scupaa, locally known as DJ Scupaa, won a dancing and performing school competition in Uganda organised by Waka Waka band and he impressed the band’s directors, who recruited him. He later quit the band and joined Bakayimbira Dramactors. “I was a student at Kampala High School and the school was good for anyone who had interest in entertainment. Basically, my music career started back in Uganda,” Scupaa said. He recalled: “Chameleon, who is now a famous artiste in East African, was my good friend. By that time, he was studying at Progressive High School. Rasta Rob and Shanks Vivid were also my friends and they treated me like their little brother.” Scupaa later moved to Rwanda and worked on 101 FM, which was the country’s leading radio station at the time, and he became the youngest and most popular radio DJ and singer in the countrys entertainment history. “Anyone, who followed Rwanda’s entertainment scene at the time, knew me. I used to work with my friend DJ Alex Karangwa,” Scupaa noted. His first record, “Muteteri” was the most requested song on Rwandan radio. He was complimented on his stage shows by some of the industry’s superstars, who he performed with at a very young age. These artistes include, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Ziggy Marley, Kofi Olomide, P.J. Powers, and more. Chaka Chaka who discovered Scupaa in 1999 during her performance in Rwanda at Amahoro Stadium, said that his talent was too big for the national level. Scupaa went to South Africa in 2000, and through Chaka Chaka’s connections, he worked in various radio stations and night clubs, including Vudu and Florida. In 2001, Scupaa went to the U.S and he is now an American citizen and a New York resident. He feels his dream has almost been accomplished after graduating from one of U.S’ best Audio Engineering Schools, with his album “Americans’ Dream” and working with international artistes, such as Alicia Keys, Swizz Beatz and P. Diddy. The album “Americans’ Dream” is a representation of anyone who has a dream, chasing a dream, or anyone that once had a dream that turned into a reality. Scupaa is a singer, producer, DJ and songwriter. His music ranges from party good feel love songs to motivating people that they can achieve their goals no matter how hard life is, because he has been through it all. This charming artiste has released more than 100 singles including Ladies’ Man, It’s a Party, Crazy World, All My Ladies, My Baby Girl [High school lover], Voice 4 Voiceless People and Never Give up on Life. Scupaa urges local artistes to have a good attitude, persistence, listening and respect for everyone if they want to become successful. He credits the Rwanda government for its efforts in rebuilding the country after the 1994 Rwanda Genocide against the Tutsi. “I was so surprised by the country’s rapid development. It is really annoying that people spread negative theories about Rwanda overseas. Rwanda is now a peaceful country, beautiful, clean and at the pace of developing. I have recorded a Kinyarwanda song about the country’s rebirth,” Scupaa concludes. Ends

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I'm a proud Rwandan, Scupaa Knight confesses