Weya Viatora, 23, has become a renowned national and international entertainer.
\nShe was invited to the festival through the Rwanda Arts Initiative (RAI), a non-profit structure intended to contribute to the professionalization of the art industry in Rwanda. <\/p>\n
The RAI founder Dorcy Rugamba told IGIHE that they invited Weya so as to help position her music to the international level. <\/p>\n
He said, \u201cWe invited Weya so that she comes, polishes her skills, networks with professional artists, opens her eyes, and get more exposure. This is part of the Rwanda Arts Initiative\u2019s projects where we take an artist and link them with other artists through such spaces as KVS. Th\u00e9\u00e2tre Royal Flamand will enable her to meet great artists.\u201d
\nHe added that they wish to see such Rwandan music as Weya\u2019s being sold via big retail chains like Fnac, enabling the musicians to live off their music.<\/p>\n
RAI provides this support to such different artists as writers, singers, both stage and screen actors among others.<\/p>\n
In her conversation with IGIHE, Weya said that she was pleased to have been chosen to perform at the festival.<\/p>\n
She added, \u201cWe will meet other artists, learn from them, share experiences and see if we can generate something big.\u201d<\/p>\n
Weya will also produce her second album through such Belgian studios as Nicolas Lef\u00e8vre\u2019s Sunny Side Inc, and Christian Dessart and Rachid Mir\u2019s Bionix through their partnership with RAI.<\/p>\n
She is also is set to collaborate with Ga\u00ebl Faye who she met through the Rwandan book launch of his novel \u201cLe Petit Pays\u201d.<\/p>\n
Born in Kigali on July 9, 1996, she discovered her musical talent at the age of four. She said, \u201cSince childhood, I liked singing. As I grew up, I could sing when sad or happy. In fact, this is my calling. To me, nothing can replace singing because it is my life.\u201d<\/p>\n
She wrote her first song in her primary four but went into a recording studio at the end of her high school when she released her first song \u201cEmpty House\u201d, a song that was played on Voice of America, and earned her an interview with CNN.<\/p>\n
She has released such songs as \u201cIntimba\u201d, \u201cEyes Open Dreaming\u201d, \u201cMiracles\u201d, \u201cUwo Ndiwe\u201d, \u201cHeritage\u201d, and \u201cName is Woman\u201d.<\/p>\n
Among awards put to her name are 2014\u2019s High School Idol and 2016\u2019s \u201cYouth Award\u201d.
\nSo far, she has released one album titled Fire Flame on which she worked with different producers including Khrisau, Danny Beats, Jay P, and Dr. Nganji.<\/p>\n
She has collaborated with different prominent artists such as Mani Martin, Butera Knowless, Peace Jolis, Patrick Nyamitali, Carole Karemera, Samuel Kamanzi, and Michael Sengazi.
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