We're back on the road and well into our journey - 40 countries down, 15 more still to go. And we are in Rwanda, the destination of choice for asylum seekers according to the recently departed UK government who managed to spend roughly £300m to send a grand total of one person there. Maybe I should have got them to subsidise this post before they lost power.
I have had some logistical issues of my own with Rwanda. It has proved difficult to track down enough music to fill the post. Last time out in Nigeria I had a shortlist of 80 artists, for Rwanda the long list was nine. But fear not. While the quantity may be lacking the quality is not.
We will start with the only Rwandan CD in my collection, "Gakondo" by Mighty Popo. His Mightiness lived for several years in Canada where he recorded this album on which he revisits and reworks traditional musical styles to fine effect. I acquired the CD by revisiting traditional methods as well - I bought it off Ebay - but you can pick up a copy on Bandcamp if you feel so inclined.
At some point after releasing this album in 2011 Popo returned home to become a director of the Rwanda School of Creative Arts and Music. As far as I can tell he has not released any further albums but you can find one or two more recent videos on YouTube.
Unusually for this series that is the oldest recording you will be getting today. The Rwandan music scene seems to have escaped the attentions of the various record labels responsible for some of the many vintage reissues and compilations that I have shared with you on the journey.
Until someone plugs that gap I would point those of you hankering for a compilation in the direction of "Why Did We Stop Growing Tall?" which features recordings by Abatwa pygmies. Ranging from lullabies to a sort of rap, and often accompanied by a mbira-like instrument called the ikembe, its an interesting listen. I've opted for one of two tracks on the album by Emmanuel Hatungimana.
Probably the best known internationally of today's featured acts is Cécile Kayirebwa, who got a bit of mainstream attention as a result of releasing a few albums on European labels in the 1990s and performing at Womad in 2001. Andy Kershaw was a particular fan and included her song "Umunezero" as one of his 'Desert Island Discs'.
Today's selection comes from "Imyaka 20 Ishize", which was released in 2014. Described as "a compilation of carefully selected tracks to mark the 20th commemoration of the Rwandan Genocide", it is not entirely clear whether they were all new recordings, but Cécile was still making music as of late 2022 so it is possible they were.
Moving forward from 2014 to 2019 we have a pair of albums for you - "Rwanda You Should Be Loved" by The Good Ones and "Isoko Disangiye" by Munyakazi Deo. I'm sure we can all agree with the first sentiment, and Brexiteers apart probably also the second one if Google Translate's claim that it means "our shared market" is correct.
The Good Ones are a trio of hill farmers who also play guitar and sing (or a trio of guitarists who also farm, whichever you prefer). "Rwanda You Should Be Loved" is their third album and features guest spots from the likes of Nels Cline of Wilco, Corin Tucker of Sleater-Kinney and Kevin Shields of My Bloody Valentine. None of them appear on the track below though.
Munyakazi Deo is an inanga gun for hire (the inanga being a traditional stringed instrument from the region). He has supported local stars such as Cécile as well as the likes of Keziah Jones and Joss Stone. None of them appear anywhere on his album, the ungrateful b*****ds.
As always we bring this part of the proceedings to a close with some Mandatory African Reggae. And who better to provide it than Darius Rurangirwa, better known to his many fans as Jah Bone D. He has been recording for about 20 years now. This track was released as a single in 2021 and is available through many of the usual outlets.
"Rwampunga" - Mighty Popo
"Rwanda Nziza" - Emmanuel Hatungimana
"Ubutumwa" - Cécile Kayirebwa
"Marciana, You Should Love" - The Good Ones
"Urakwiriye Mwami" - Munyakazi Deo
"Si Abantu" - Jah Bone D
Some belting songs, and I am pleased that The Good Ones lived up to the promise.
ReplyDeleteI find it strange that there is no African country beginning with P.
ReplyDeleteOr is it just me?
Just you I think.
DeleteThere used to be one back in the colonial era when Mozambique was Portuguese East Africa, but not any more. And there are seven other letters that don't have an African country to go with them (8 if you don't include Western Sahara).