{"id":2000114623,"date":"2026-06-05T14:58:51","date_gmt":"2026-06-05T12:58:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/?p=2000114623"},"modified":"2026-06-05T15:32:30","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T13:32:30","slug":"elijah-kitaka-opens-up-about-new-collab-with-nel-ngabo-and-why-rwanda-feels-like-home-video","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/elijah-kitaka-opens-up-about-new-collab-with-nel-ngabo-and-why-rwanda-feels-like-home-video\/","title":{"rendered":"Elijah Kitaka opens up about new collab with Nel Ngabo and why Rwanda feels like home (Video)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Known for his versatility as a singer, songwriter, producer, and accomplished drummer, Kitaka is signed to Uganda\u2019s Swangz Avenue and has built a reputation for blending Afro-fusion, soul, reggae, and dancehall with a distinctive live-instrument feel shaped by his early background in church bands and live sessions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Speaking in an exclusive interview with IGIHE, Kitaka said his frequent visits to Kigali, this being his fourth time, have made the city a place that naturally inspires calm and creativity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cKigali is a calm place\u2026 every time I come here I want to be calm. I have so many friends here, and I feel like I\u2019m also here for the music, to collaborate and join forces so we can push music from Uganda to Rwanda and Rwanda to Uganda,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"3595\" height=\"4494\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/06\/054A7924.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2000114625\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Known for his versatility as a singer, songwriter, producer, and accomplished drummer, Kitaka is signed to Uganda\u2019s Swangz Avenue.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Beyond music, the artist also expressed admiration for Kigali\u2019s environment, praising its cleanliness, quiet atmosphere, and scenic hills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the centre of his Kigali visit is \u201cMasterpiece,\u201d a collaboration with Nel Ngabo that Kitaka says came together naturally from the moment the two artists met.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The track, whose official video premiered on Friday, June 5, was born after Nel brought the initial idea and invited Kitaka to add his verse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNel wrote the song and brought it to me to put the verse. He thought I was the best person to have a vision about the masterpiece he had created,\u201d Kitaka explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He added that their first meeting sparked immediate creative chemistry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe first time I met Nel, he came where I was staying with Clement and the energy just flowed by itself. It was like two kings meeting, and our way forward was the masterpiece we created.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"696\" height=\"391\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/V5hJG7H-XjQ\" title=\"Elijah Kitaka talks \u201cMasterpiece\u201d with Nel Ngabo, musical journey &amp; why Kigali feels like home\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A song inspired by admiration and beauty<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to Kitaka, \u201cMasterpiece\u201d is not just a title, but a concept inspired by admiration for a special person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMasterpiece is a song we wrote for that one special person who is a masterpiece, who is above everything,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He revealed that the song celebrates beauty and uniqueness, while the accompanying video continues that theme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe video concept is more of us singing for this woman who is the masterpiece \u2014beautiful, extraordinary, above everything.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Shot in Rwanda, the video is described by Kitaka as simple and family-friendly, aligning with his preference for authentic and uncluttered visual storytelling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Building East African musical bridges<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Beyond the single, Kitaka emphasised the importance of cross-border collaborations in shaping a stronger East African music industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cCollaborations make artists travel places and voices travel places. If I\u2019m only doing well in Uganda, I\u2019ve made it in Uganda. But when I cross the border and collaborate with a voice like Nel\u2019s, we build a fan base together,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He noted that such partnerships allow audiences to discover new artists across borders, strengthening regional unity through music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2666\" height=\"3333\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/06\/054A7902.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2000114624\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Elijah Kitaka and Nel Ngabo dropped their <em>Masterpiece<\/em> official video on Friday, June 5, 2026.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kitaka also hinted at upcoming projects with several East African artists, including Rwandan and Kenyan acts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He mentioned collaborations with celebrated Rwandan artists Kivumbi and Mike Kayihura, as well as a broader regional project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWith Mike, we have an EP we\u2019re trying to do, along with some artists in Kenya like Ben Soul. It\u2019s going to be a big project called East African Boys. It has different sounds and different energies,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">From church drums to international stages<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Reflecting on his journey, Kitaka traced his musical foundation back to church, where he first learned drums and other instruments. Before fully transitioning into music, he also built a career in IT and technology, balancing his passion for music with his professional path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDrumming was the foundation. I was one of the best drummers in Uganda around 2015 up to COVID. Even then, I was writing music and directing bands,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"3754\" height=\"4693\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/06\/054A8137.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2000114628\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He later transitioned into singing and production, expanding his career into multiple creative roles while maintaining his instrumental roots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Today, Kitaka is not only known for studio hits such as \u201cDawa,\u201d \u201cNothing,\u201d and \u201cTutu Mama\u201d featuring Vinka, but also for his strong live performance presence across Africa, including festivals such as Blankets and Wine (Uganda), Amani Festival (DRC), Ongala Festival (Tanzania), and Visa for Music (Morocco).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To emerging talents, Kitaka encouraged consistency, humility, and resilience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBe humble, be ambitious, respect one another. Practice makes perfect. There will be challenges, but they show if you\u2019re really serious. Use social media, push yourself. The day will come when someone notices you,\u201d he advised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As \u201cMasterpiece\u201d takes over the airwaves, Kitaka says fans should expect a vibrant East African collaboration driven by chemistry, simplicity, and emotion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"742\" height=\"391\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/DXvQFiOZc_s?list=RDDXvQFiOZc_s\" title=\"Nel Ngabo - Masterpiece ft Elijah Kitaka (Official video)\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"696\" height=\"391\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ilcGsMrw84I\" title=\"Masterpiece\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ugandan R&#038;B and Afro-fusion artist Elijah Kitaka has offered insight into his creative process, musical journey, and growing East African collaborations in the wake of the release of the much-anticipated project with Rwandan rising star Nel Ngabo, dubbed \u201cMasterpiece.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":131,"featured_media":2000114629,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[151,69],"byline":[192],"hashtag":[],"class_list":["post-2000114623","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment","tag-editors-choice","tag-homehighlights","byline-wycliffe-nyamasege"],"bylines":[{"id":192,"name":"Wycliffe Nyamasege","slug":"wycliffe-nyamasege","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":131}],"contributors":[{"id":192,"name":"Wycliffe Nyamasege","slug":"wycliffe-nyamasege","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":131}],"featured_image":{"id":2000114629,"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/06\/MixCollage-05-Jun-2026-02-52-PM-1280.jpg","alt":"","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","width":1000,"height":700,"sizes":{"thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/06\/MixCollage-05-Jun-2026-02-52-PM-1280.jpg","width":1000,"height":700},"medium":{"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/06\/MixCollage-05-Jun-2026-02-52-PM-1280.jpg","width":1000,"height":700},"medium_large":{"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/06\/MixCollage-05-Jun-2026-02-52-PM-1280.jpg","width":1000,"height":700},"large":{"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/06\/MixCollage-05-Jun-2026-02-52-PM-1280.jpg","width":1000,"height":700},"full":{"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/06\/MixCollage-05-Jun-2026-02-52-PM-1280.jpg","width":1000,"height":700}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2000114623","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/131"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2000114623"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2000114623\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2000114631,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2000114623\/revisions\/2000114631"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2000114629"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2000114623"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2000114623"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2000114623"},{"taxonomy":"byline","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/byline?post=2000114623"},{"taxonomy":"hashtag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hashtag?post=2000114623"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}