Tom Close shared the story during a talk he gave at ‘Citylight Foursquare Church’ on March 10, 2026. The session was held under the theme “Balancing fame and Christianity,” and he appeared alongside gospel singer Israel Mbonyi.
Speaking during the event, Tom Close recalled that while he was still in primary school he admired President Kagame deeply and often played his role in school drama performances.
He noted that although many children today look up to fictional characters such as Spider-Man and Superman as their heroes, things were different when he was growing up.
“For children today, Spider-Man and Superman are their superheroes,” he said. “But when we were young, the Inkotanyi were our superheroes. I often say this jokingly: when I was still in primary school, I liked acting in plays where I played the role of the Vice President and Minister of Defence, Paul Kagame.”
He added that at one point, when he was still very young, he wrote a letter addressed to Kagame and asked his mother to pass it on to him.
“I remember going to where my mother worked and giving her the letter so she could deliver it,” he said.
Tom Close did not disclose what he had written in the letter, nor whether it ever reached the president.
The artist also shared that while many musicians chase fame and wealth, his childhood dream was much simpler: to make music until President Kagame knew who he was.
“Growing up, I always felt that if one day I learned that he knew me and considered me a good artist, that alone would be enough, even if I stopped there,” he said.
According to Tom Close, this dream influenced the way he approached his music career. He said it pushed him to produce songs that would protect his reputation, believing that one day President Kagame might hear and appreciate his work.
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