Meet PHD Frankie: A doctor with a musical message

Dr. Francis Mutabazi alias “Frankie PHD” is not only a medical doctor with a passion for suffering patients but an artist with zeal to extend his counsel to Rwandans through music. It’s an unlikely combination but one which is spreading vital and sometime complex messages through a highly accessible medium. The Sunday Times caught up with Dr. Frankie PHD recently, when he completed his first album ‘Break the silence’ (catch it on his V.O.A website link www.isounds.com/drfrankie_phd). The doctor says that the songs are meant to help Rwandans realise the need to stop the spread of HIV/Aids. From his years of experience of treating patients in Kanombe Military Hospital, Frankie PHD has now moved to Rwikwanvu Hospital in Kayonza district, where he has managed to record live videos reflecting his message and experience of handling cases of HIV/Aids. Some of the scenes show experiences of suffering patients and the amount of damage the scourge has caused to society. In his debut song ‘Break the silence’, Frankie PHD stresses the need for people to talk openly about Aids at home in families, at work with colleagues, and in markets places with friends. “Break the silence, do act and talk less.” This, the singer believes is part of the solution to winning the battle against the HIV scourge. “The principle is ‘no condom, no sex’ and patience should be the underlying principle. Having sex with a condom should be the other alternative if one cannot be cool,” Dr. Frankie PHD advises. He also argues that when it comes to the spread of HIV among the developed countries, there will always be poverty, because one provokes the other. In the other songs the doctor addresses subjects of union with God, justice and love, he advocates against war and for justice. He aims to educate and inform not just sing. Dr. Frankie PHD’s album also features collaborations with a female solo artist Nurjan. The female voice softens the music making it suitable for the family, for church and for contemplative listening. His songs are in English, Swahili, and Kinyarwanda and the vibes are slow jam and mixed with rap produced by Umoja Records in Tanzania. Frankie’s songs, including ‘Be proud of yourself’, ‘Black is beautiful’, ‘Me against the violence’, ‘I am a new creation’, ‘All ears on me’, ‘Soon and very soon’, and ‘Where is the truth’, all, as their titles suggest, carry pertinent messages. Like most artists in Rwanda, Frankie PHD has embarked on promoting his songs through the country but faces the same old problem all musicians face - lack of sponsorship. “I look forward to have sponsorship to make an official album launch and produce more videos though in the meantime I depend on my income to make all ends meet so that my message can reach the people,” the doctor says regretfully. However, Dr. Frankie PHD is grateful to Rwanda Television, VOA and other local radios that have offered primary promotion of the album. The medic, also hails from a family of musicians and his brother 2Dove Joe Karemera has been very. Together they are planning a single on against child abuse. The doctor turned singer is set to continue educating the masses with his melodies. Ends