The singer who succumbed to heart disease has been getting treatment at Kigali University Teaching Hospital (CHUK).
Speaking to IGIHE, one of his children has said that his father died yesterday on Sunday 7th March 2021 around 7p.m.
Early this month, Ntawuhanundi told IGIHE that he was recovering with plans to resume work.
“I have been critically ill but I am recovering. Two days before, I passed by the workplace to see the situation but I could not work immediately. I will resume work within few days,” he said.
Ntawuhanundi dies after completing his album comprised of nine songs.
Speaking to IGIHE, Master P who produced the album songs said he had already submitted.
“He had finished his album of nine songs including eight gospel songs and one ordinary song. I had already put final touches and handed it to the owner who expected to release it,” he said.
Wailer, a baritone singer whose birth name is Neville Livingston, formed The Wailers in 1963 with late superstars Bob Marley and Peter Tosh when they lived in a slum in the capital of Kingston. They catapulted to international fame with the album “Catch a Fire” and also helped popularize Rastafarian culture among better-off Jamaicans starting in the 1970s.
“Jah-B was a vanguard, always pushing the boundaries of expression, whether in song, in style or in spoken word,” said Brian Paul Welsh, a local reggae musician known as Blvk H3ro. “There was and can only ever be one Neville Livingston.”
Wailer died at Andrews Memorial Hospital in the Jamaican parish of St. Andrew of complications from a stroke he suffered in July, manager Maxine Stowe told The Associated Press.
His death was mourned worldwide as people shared music, memories and pictures of the renowned artist.
“The passing of Bunny Wailer, the last of the original Wailers, brings to a close the most vibrant period of Jamaica’s musical experience,” wrote Jamaica politician Peter Phillips in a Facebook post. “Bunny was a good, conscious Jamaican brethren.”
Jamaica’s Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, also paid tribute to Wailer, calling him “a respected elder statesman of the Jamaican music scene,” in a series of tweets.
“This is a great loss for Jamaica and for Reggae, undoubtedly Bunny Wailer will always be remembered for his sterling contribution to the music industry and Jamaica’s culture,” he wrote.
While Wailer toured the world, he was more at home in Jamaica’s mountains and he enjoyed farming while writing and recording songs on his label, Solomonic.
″I think I love the country actually a little bit more than the city,″ Wailer told The Associated Press in 1989. ″It has more to do with life, health and strength. The city takes that away sometimes. The country is good for meditation. It has fresh food and fresh atmosphere — that keeps you going.″
A year before, in 1988, he had chartered a jet and flew to Jamaica with food to help those affected by Hurricane Gilbert.
″Sometimes people pay less attention to those things (food), but they turn out to be the most important things. I am a farmer,” he told the AP.
He was the third and last original Wailer. Marley died in 1981 of a brain tumor at 36 years old and Tosh was fatally shot in Jamaica in 1987 at 42 years old.
Their civil marriage was held at Rusororo sector, Gasabo district of Kigali city yesterday on Thursday 18th February 2021.
The civil marriage follows recent engagement on 8th January 2021 when Ifashabayo proposed to Karasira.
IGIHE has learnt that they are also planning for religious wedding in case Covid-19 restrictions are eased.
Clarisse Karasira met with Ifashabayo in 2017 during a concert organized in memory of late traditional singer Kamaliza.
Their friendship started when Ifashabayo who was part of the concert organizers went to invite Karasira.
It is said that Ifashabayo took over management of her affairs since 2019 after she parted ways with her then manager Alain Mukuralinda.
Karasira was expected to launch her first album in December last year but was later forced to postpone it due to stringent measures implemented following the spike in the Covid-19 infections and death toll.
As he released the audio-visual song today, Meddy dedicated it to his fans especially during end of year festive seasons.
As he spoke to IGIHE recently, Meddy revealed that the song would be dedicated to thrill fans.
“The year-end is unfolding. This year has been characterized by difficulties but we must leave it in style. I hope to be among people who can help my fans to end the year happily,” he said.
The song shot in a desert features a crew of dancers and Meddy proposing love to a girl called Caroline.
The audio was produced by Element from Country Record while the video clip was shot and produced by Lick Lick who already works with the artiste.
Carolina song follows ‘We don’t care’ in which Meddy featured with Tanzanian artistes including Rj the Dj and Rayvanny.
Jacques Muligande (Mighty Popo), the director of the school has told IGIHE that the studio will be equipped with facilities that meet international standards to support various artistes starting with the school’s students.
“The recording studio will be used by all artistes from Rwanda and beyond. Of course, our students will also access the studio during related studies,” he said.
Muligande explained that the studio will be part of the school’s income generating projects leading to self-financing.
The studio will hire different Producers that will include, among others, ongoing students or the school’s alumni, producers from Rwanda and abroad.
Muligande revealed, the studio will be operational effective from February 2021.
As he visited the school yesterday, American artiste and music producer, Teddy Riley was also taken to site of the studio under construction.
Upon completion, Riley observed that the studio will meet the same standards of his recording studio in the United States of America.
Excited over the project, he expressed willingness to return to Rwanda for partnership with students from Nyundo School of Music in various projects.
Riley worked with different super-start artistes including Michael Jackson, Jay Z, among others.
Meddy had been invited as the main performer in two festive concerts that were slated to take place in Bujumbura, Burundi.
The first show was scheduled to take place on December 29, at Boulevard de l’Uprona with another one at Le Costa Beach the following day.
Concerts had been advertised and tickets were being sold in Bujumbura.
Reports on the postponing of Meddy’s concerts started circulating when, last week, a message went viral on Facebook written by one Gatoto Egide Mathias, warning that the day Meddy steps in Burundi ‘they will kill him’.
The message that was intended to youth members of CNDD FDD, the Political Party in power in Burundi, known as Imbonerakure, went as far as accusing Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame of causing poverty to Burundi adding that the artist would go to Burundi to add to poverty that is already a threat to the lives of Burundians.
The message posted in a public Facebook group, Humura Burundi loosely translates as ” Greetings to you Imbonerakure [youth members of CNDD FDD], Kagame keeps provoking us. Now let us show him how we have gone mad and catch his dog and kill him. He (Meddy) is coming to cause us more poverty, making it worse for us.”
The post raised fears among lovers of Meddy’s music and other music lovers who wished to celebrate festive times in neighboring Burundi though the organizers of Meddy’s shows said that they had spoken to Meddy and assured him of his security and that officials of Bujumbura City had agreed to provide special policemen to guarantee his security while in Burundi.
However, on Thursday, the management of the artist issued a statement announcing the postponement of the singer’s two concerts due to security concerns.
“To our dear fans, Meddy’s management is sad to announce that we will unfortunately have to postpone our upcoming shows in Burundi due to security concerns,” the announcement by Meddy’s Management reads in part.
“To everyone who bought tickets, we appreciate you so much, you will be reimbursed, we hope partying with you soon,” the statement adds.
Meddy’s concerts have been postponed after another Rwandan singer, Bruce Melodie decided to suspend his two shows in Gitega and Bujumbura also citing fear for his life in Burundi. He was replaced by Kidumu, a Burundian star singer in a show he had to grace on Christmas.
But little has been known among Rwanda residents of the access to Bollywood and more Indian content on locally available platforms.
ZEE Network —global entertainment giant— has made it possible for anyone with subscription to DStv, Canal+, Kwese TV or StarTimes to watch Bollywood movies, novellas and more content on ZEE channels at no extra cost, according to Harish Goyal, Chief Executive Officer in charge of Africa and Asia Pacific at ZEE TV.
Bollywood is the Indian cinema industry known globally for its state-of-the art movies appealing to various categories of people—young and adult, female and male—among others.
Speaking to IGIHE Tuesday in Kigali, Goyal said there are six channels available in Rwanda for 24 hours per seven days in English on different platforms and in French on Canal+.
The English channels include Zee World available on DStv channel 166, Zee
Bollymovies on DStv channel 114 and Kwese TV channel 155 and Zee Bollynova on Kwese TV channel 150.
Zee Magic in French is on Canal+ channel 51 and WION (World Is One News) bringing latest and breaking world news in politics, business, sports, lifestyle and more on Kwese TV channel 731 and on Kwese Play.
There is also Zee Cinema International, one of the most popular movie channels in Asia, which is available on StarTimes channel 507.
Zee World also launched last Sunday the Swahili audio track for its popular series: “Twist of Fate,” which returns for the second season. The Swahili track on Zee World is available in seven regional countries via DStv channel 166 and GOtv channel 25.
{{Why Rwanda?
}}
Goyal was in Kigali as one of the speakers at a three-day continental business conference. He said it was his first time in the country as his office is based in South Africa.
“Rwanda is one of the fastest growing economies in Africa; a lot is happening, investment and development. It is also a country of young citizens. For these millennials, the content that we bring really fits with Rwanda,” Goyal said of the ZEE TV interest in Rwanda.
“Rwanda is an important market. We are bringing these programmes in English and French targeting the mainstream audiences in Rwanda.”
The CEO in charge of ZEE operations in 70 countries said their extensive research indicated that there is a cultural resonance between Indians and Africans, more so Rwandans.
The similarities are mainly in the fact that both people in India and Rwanda love music, dance and colourful dresses.
“We show storylines that appeal to Rwandan people. Again, all ZEE TV content is three generation-oriented. This means that grand parents can sit with their grand children and children while watching ZEE channels,” said Goyal.
“Our relationship with Rwanda has just begun. I am confident that this relationship will grow and get strengthened further in the coming time. We are definitely looking at Rwanda as a very important market in Africa, not only in the East Africa.”
He invited Rwandan viewers to try the ZEE channels.
“I am sure that if you give us five minutes, you will like our channels for the rest of your life.”
With over 1.3 billion viewers in 173 countries, India-based ZEE Network has got 40 channels in India and outside of India.
ZEE is the world’s largest aggregator of Bollywood and Indian TV content with 242,000 hours of Bollywood content and a production of fresh 100 hours of content every day.
In Africa, the network has 12 TV channels that reach over 50 million viewers.
The representative for the influential singer, Gwendolyn Quinn, confirmed the news that she passed away at her home in Detroit.
Franklin, who was suffering from pancreatic cancer, was recently reported to be “gravely ill”.
An influential cultural figure, often described as “the voice of black America”, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005, and performed at Barack Obama’s inauguration in 2009.
The singer, who performed in a gospel choir in childhood and later graduated to master other genres such as pop and soul music, rose to worldwide prominence in the 1960s.
Several celebrities took to social media networks to pay tribute to the late queen of soul.
Elton John wrote a lengthy thread on Twitter, reminiscing working with Franklin, where he called her death “a blow for everybody who loves real music”.
“Her voice was unique, her piano playing underrated – she was one of my favourite pianists… She sang and played magnificently, and we all wept. We were witnessing the greatest soul artist of all time.
Streisand shared a photo from 2012 when she performed with Franklin at a tribute celebration for their friend, Marvin Hamlisch.
Franklin was more than just a titanic vocalist who could effortlessly move through pop, jazz, R&B, gospel and disco. Known to her fans simply as “Aretha,” Franklin was an inordinately complex pop star — “Our Lady of Mysterious Sorrows,” wrote Wexler in his memoir.
This nascent project trading under Outdoor Movie is led by a team of two enterprising ladies; Kobusingye Bonitah and Mwiza Gasangwa Denise. The very first Outdoor Movie screening took place at Caiman Restaurant in May 2018 with a huge turn up of about 300 people where scrumptious dishes were as well served.
Speaking to IGIHE, Kobusingye said that the two women conceived the idea at a time they were longing for a spark in the routine. She further added that they seized the opportunity because they wished to contribute to the Rwandan entertainment menu by diversifying the events.
“We want to take entertainment to a new level with a diversity of all-time classic films enjoyed under the stars in a unique setting. We will have vendors selling snacks, soft drinks and alcohol at the movie showing venues. We really do want the public to enjoy their time”, Kobusingye gushed
Burgers, chip twisters, cold drinks, popcorn, candy floss and other snacks will be for sale. The movie which is yet to be announced by the organizers, will start at 6Pm and end at 8:30pm.
“This project also aims at educating and inspiring through the art of films. There will be screenings each last Saturday of each month and we hope to receive all your support!” She added
Pack your picnic blanket and chairs and take along a cooler box with drinks and snacks and head to Caiman Restaurant for the screening of a family friendly classic. No glass or forks are allowed at the venue, although wine bottles are permitted.
For more direct information contact the numbers on the poster and follow this interesting initiative on their social media platforms @OutdoorMovie_kgl
Made-In-Rwanda’s best and brightest gathered at Onomo Hotel to receive awards in an event organized by East African Youth Development Agency in a bid to recognize individuals, companies and institutions that have contributed to the country’s economic growth by creating and promoting Rwanda’s domestic products, both locally and internationally.
The awards were given out in ten competitive categories, with five special recognition awards for Lifestyle, Fashion, and Innovation.
During the selection, 60% of votes were from the net while the remaining 40% were to be given by a special panel of judges. Another category was the people’s Choice, which involved a person who was voted most from the public.
Notable public figures from entertainment and media were found at the event. Yannick Mukunzi, a player from Rayon Sports was awarded as ‘Best Fashionable Male Celebrity, Songbird Knowless Butera was awarded as ‘Best Fashionable Female Celebrity’ while DJ Pius was awarded for making the ‘Fashionable music video of the year’.
Kamanzi Uwizera Gloria who spoke in the name of the organizers said that the event was organized in a way of encouraging the young & creative minds of Rwanda, and use the event as an opportunity to promote Rwanda’s products, both locally and internationally.
“The Made-in-Rwanda awards will be an annual event, as a way of expressing gratitude towards those who promote ‘Made-In-Rwanda’ products.” Kamanzi Uwizera Gloria said
{{2018 Made-in-Rwanda Awards winners
}}
Best Fashionable Female Celebrity: Knowless Butera
