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  • Tom Close, Miss Jojo named Salax artists of the year

    Salax awards held its third annual Music Awards last night — and some of the country’s biggest duo of course took the top prize for male and female artists of the year respectively. 

    Tom Close scoop the artist of the year award in a tight competition as Miss Jojo picked up the female artists of the year trophy.

    Over 15 categories were competed for during the event graced by the minister of culture and sports Protais Mitari. He hailed the Ikirezi Group, the organisers of the awards for their initiative to recognise creativity among artists in the music industry.

    “When the government added me other responsibilities I was happy but I was more happy when they told me that I will be working with these artists of ours”, he said, before handing over the prestigious awards to respective categories’ winners.

    Below are the winners of the various categories

    Best Album 2010 : Impinduramatwara by Riderman

    Best new artist 2010 : Knowless

    Best Producer 2010 : Lick Lick Studio Unlimited Records and Studio The Focus Production.

    Best gospel artist of the year 2010 : Dominic Nic

    Best Hip-Hop artist 2010 : Jay Polly

    Best Video2010 : Baza by Tom Close.

    Best R&B artist 2010 : King James

    Best Teen Artist 2010 : Young Grace

    Best Afro beat artist 2010 : Kamichi

    Best Group artist 2010 : Dream Boys

    Best East African artists 2010 : GoodLyfe Crew from Uganda

    Best Song of the year 2010 : Zoubeda for Kamichi and the The Ben 

    Best female artist of the year 2010 : Miss Jojo

    Best male artist of the year 2010 : Tom Close 

    Best collar MTN tune song of the year : Bella by Dream boys and Kitoko.

     

  • This year’s Kwita Izina set for 18 June

    The seventh gorilla naming ceremony commonly known as Kwita Izina will be held on 18 June 2011 at Kinigi, Musanze District. During the ceremony, a total of 22 gorilla infants, This includes a set of twins born in February this year,a rare occurrence for an endangered species which counts fewer than 800 individuals.

    Mountain gorillas are Rwanda’s main tourist attraction and accounted for 90 percent of tourism revenue in 2010.

    The naming ceremony will also mark the country’s seventh year tourism anniversary to be marked under the theme community development for sustained conservation,

    Clare Akamanzi RDB Chief Operative Officer, observed that there has been a steady increase in tourism revenues. She pointed out that the industry made a total of US$200 million in 2010 while projections for this year are estimated to be US$216 million.

    She further pointed out that there has been a 26 percent growth in the gorilla population since the last census in 2003. The growth is partly attributed to the conversion of poachers into productive activities such as agriculture. “The transformation has also improved security in the parks at the same time improved their livelihoods,|” she remarked.

    Prior to the naming ceremony, RDB shall recognise the efforts of the community in contributing to the welfare of our wildlife and its conservation. The celebration of Kwita Izina will be preceded by a weeklong activities which includes Kwita Izina national cycling tour, conservation conference, launching of community projects as well as a community party known as “Igitaramo“. The activities consist of refurbishing of health centres, schools and funding of cooperatives specialising on tourism products. RDB would facilitate workshops in Kiningi to train handicraft makers on how to produce quality goods market them to tourists. In total, RDB would inject Frw 1billion to support community projects surrounding national parks.

     RDB’s head of tourism and conservation Rica Rwigamba encouraged locals to visit gorillas and abandon the erroneous mindset that this is meant for tourists. “We’re doing our best to encourage locals, we charge them Frw 20,000 while foreigners pay US$500,” she commented.

    According to Rwigamba, Mountain gorillas are Rwanda’s main tourist attraction and accounted for 90 percent of tourism revenue in 2010.

    In the 2010 census, the total number of mountain gorillas has increased by a quarter over the past seven years to reach more than 780 individuals. Two thirds of them are found in the Virunga massif, which straddles Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Rwanda has recorded only five twin mountain gorilla births over the past 40 years.

     

  • Debutant Kigali filmmaker set to receive award in the Netherlands

    A sage known as Voltaire once said ; ‘Life is a shipwreck but we must not forget to sing in the lifeboats’. This is not further than the truth when one considers the life journey of Kigali born radio producer/presenter and fashion designer Dudy alias Mwicira Mitari Dudy De Maximo.

    Having witnessed the horrific carnage of his family in the hands of the perpetrators of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, De Maximo has certainly come a long way since then. On Wednesday, May 25 2011, De Maximo is set to receive the Young African Achievers award in the Netherlands for a movie project that has been a real revelation.

    De Maximo, 29, a trained electrical engineer, will receive the Young African Achievers Awards after his thrilling yet educative movie ‘Short Cut’. The movie that highlights the hideous scenes of the 1994 genocide against Tutsi, will for the second time, be screened in Netherlands following numerous rave reviews.

    The film, which is directed and filmed by De Maximo, features genocide victims who drowned as they tried to flee from the gory hands of the genocidaires, as others were killed and their bodies hurled into rivers.

    The Young African Achievers Awards aims at providing role models and mentors to other young people. It also aims at acknowledging, motivating and highlighting the achievements of young people, developing leadership skills and cultivating a sense of pride and confidence in being an African.

    The annual awards event is an initiative of the Young African Achievers organisation that brings together all African embassies based in the Netherlands. The head of the organisation, Professor Ruthiec Roma will hand over the award to De Maximo in the presence of Rwanda’s Ambassador to the Netherlands, Immaculate Uwanyirigira. 

    De Maximo is later expected to hold a 45 minute press conference with the media. His movie will also be screened to coincide with the closing ceremony of the 100 days commemoration of the 1994 Tutsi genocide to be held in the Netherlands.

    De Maximo holds an advanced diploma in Electrical Engineering from the Kigali Institute of Science And Technology (KIST). He has previously worked in the German-based radio station- Deutsche Welle, as a transmitter operator in Kigali before serving as a logistics officer/technician, store officer and first-aid worker with other employers. He has also worked at Rwanda’s Press House and Contact FM radio station as an adviser and promoter/presenter, respectively.

    At the age of 12, the 1994 genocide against Tutsi led him to the woodlands after losing his entire family. After 32 days, the Rwanda Patriotic Army now RDF(Rwanda Defense Force) which he later joined, came to his rescue. He retired as a soldier barely two years later to pursue other interests.

    However, the artistic and go-getting de Maximo decided to venture into the world of fashion design and filmmaking, trades that have already began earning him continental accolades. 

  • Meet Rwandan songstress who combines charisma and benevolence

    Born in a musical background, stunning Rwandan beauty and vocalist Nicole Musoni may not look familiar to you. However, she is slowly turning heads in Canada with her staggering potential. Musoni does not merely sing songs, but drones them from her soul. But behind the facade, there is still much more to this songstress.

    In an exclusive interview with IGIHE.com, this hitherto unknown musical talent takes us behind the scenes and tells us her history, inspiration and ambitions whilst illuminating her ingenuously remarkable persona.

    Raised in a family of musicians, her father was a well-known local artist, a role that perhaps led to her musical inclination. “My parents were a big influence on me as I grew up. Both played a major part in my passion for art such as music and dancing. My father was a well known artist in Rwanda and would teach me songs he wrote and also have me sing them along as a child. When I was two years old, I hit the stage for the first time with my father at Odeon Palace in Bujumbura. As for my mother, she would teach others traditional Rwandese dances and I would join along at times.”

    She drew her musical inspiration from such musical divas as Celine Dion. From an early age, she possessed a deep passion for music and never had stage fright. She has been performing since she was eight with her first appearance at an elementary school concert.

    The musical path she embarked on led her to participate in various talent shows. One outstanding experience involved taking part in the “Star Academie” a widely known reality TV series in Canada. “The experience was amazing. It helped me build confidence, gave me an idea of how the music industry works.” During this nationwide event, she was among 50 finalists out of more than 7,000 participants, a remarkable feat that can perhaps be attributed to her unique talent. Since then, life’s been but a dream with amazing music. A renaissance darling who can’t be stopped, her melodic blend of R&B and soul will leave you breathless.

    Despite considerable highs in her musical career, she has faced quite some holdups . “I have at times being turned down because I was not skinny enough. Also when I was younger, I remember being taken advantage of by producers that just want to scam, sell you dreams with promises they don’t keep.”

    A singer and songwriter, Musoni plans to release an album in the near future as well as grow her fan base here in Rwanda. “I definitely plan on coming back to Rwanda to perform. It has always been a dream for me. I love my country a lot and I am proud of where I came from.” “I wish to positively express love and strength through my music”.

    Off the stage, Nicole works as Customer Relations Coordinator at Td Canada Trust Bank, a position that has provided her with many opportunities to rally round people. She is presently involved with many charitable organisations to raise money for breast cancer, HIV/AIDS among other illnesses. The selflessness and willingness to help out those in need are one of the attributes that truly define her.

    Outside her musical career, her life-size dream and ambition is to contribute and serve her home country. Despite being a Rwandan in the Diaspora, Nicole has a profound love and connection to Rwanda. She mentions that one of her biggest inspirations has been the Imbuto Foundation and expresses her deep desire to one day be part of it.

    “The Imbuto Foundation has done many projects helping the Rwandese community in many ways such as contributing to the education of the youth, the economy, and health particularly HIV/AIDS which is a major problem in a lot of African countries. Being a part of a foundation of such influence and experience would be an honour for me to learn and help in any way possible.”

     Nicole not only portrays the features of a true musical diva with her charm and talent but carries with her a powerful vision. The drive and motivation to reach out to people and empower them is singularly stirring . 

  • TOP FDRL commander returns home

    Having spent over 17 years serving the D.R. Congo based Rwandan Hutu rebel group- Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, Jean Batiste Barangariye a.k.a Major Mongo Smith has voluntarily surrendered and returned home.

    Major Mongo Smith, a top commander of FDLR on Thursday 19, said that he has been working as the operations commander and urged other rebels languishing in Congolese jungles to follow suit and surrender.

     “I appeal to the rest of my colleagues to also come back home because the rebel group is no longer all that powerful and it will never win the battle,” he said, adding that FDRL was no longer powerful.

     He said that though it was not as simple, he made a decision to return to his homeland since time had reached for him to come and take part in the development his nation other than destroy the nation’s stability.

    He disclosed that his operations were based in Walikare zone of Intoto in the D.R.C.

     Barandangariye joined the rebel group in 1998 from Congo Brazzaville where he was previously stationed since 1994. He is presently residing in Gisenyi in the Western Province.

  • Gacaca courts draw to a close

    The Gacaca grassroots courts will wrap up operations in December, justice minister Tharcisse Karugarama said Friday.

    “A final report will be completed by December and this chapter of Gacaca will be officially declared closed,” Karugarama said in a statement.

    The Gacaca court is part of a system of community justice inspired by tradition and established in [2001|2001->http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001] in [Rwanda|Rwanda->http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rwanda], in the wake of the [1994|1994->http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1994] [Genocide|Rwandan Genocide->http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rwandan_Genocide], against the Tutsi claimed over 1 million lives. The Gacaca courts are a method of [transitional justice|Transitional justice->http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transitional_justice], designed to promote healing and moving on from the crisis.

    “Through Gacaca we have been able to judge and resolve up to 1.4 million dossiers,” the minister said — “a great achievement that would have been impossible otherwise.”

    “There have been prison sentences ranging from five to ten years, life sentences that make up five to eight percent of the verdicts and acquittals that make up 20 to 30 percent,” said Karugarama.

    The Gacaca, which started functioning in 2005, were initially due to wind down by the end of 2007, but the date has been postponed several times due to the complexity of some of the cases before them.

    According to the National Service of Gacaca Jurisdiction, a body that coordinates the grassroots courts’ activities, the 97 remaining cases will be closed by July.

    The courts have the jurisdiction to try those who took part in the killings, but not those suspected of planning the genocide on a national or regional level.

    “All in all we are happy that we have a unique system that caters to our people needs, it may not be perfect for other nations but it serves us very well,” said Karugarama.

    After the Genocide, the new [Rwandan Patriotic Front|Rwandan Patriotic Front->http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rwandan_Patriotic_Front]’s government struggled with developing just means for the humane [detention|Detention (Imprisonment)->http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detention_(Imprisonment)] and [prosecution|Prosecution->http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosecution] of the more than 100,000 people accused of [genocide|Genocide->http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genocide], [war crimes|War crimes->http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_crimes], and related [crimes against humanity|Crimes against humanity->http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crimes_against_humanity]. By [2000|2000->http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000], approximately 120,000 alleged genocidaires were crammed into Rwanda’s prisons and communal jails. From December [1996|1996->http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1996] to December [2006|2006->http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006], the courts managed to try about 10,000 suspects at that rate it would take another 110 years to prosecute all the prisoners.

    To speed things up, some prisoners were released : In two rounds, in [2004|2004->http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004] and [2005|2005->http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005], about 50 prisoners were released. In January, 2007, another 8,000 prisoners were scheduled for release.

    However, the courts needed a more expeditious means of delivering justice. In response, Rwanda implemented the Gacaca [court|Court->http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Court] system, which has evolved from traditional cultural communal law enforcement procedures. Rwanda has especially focused on criminal prosecutions in the Gacaca courts, putting justice partially into the hands of the victims.

    The Gacaca courts are meant to provide smaller courts to relieve the burden of the larger courts. Criminals are charged with acts against humanity, such as murder and serious assault. These courts are not allowed to try accused rapists, however.[[8]->http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gacaca_court#cite_note-guardian.co.uk-7] The idea is to let the village courts resolve these issues and hopefully provide some reconciliation. The trials are meant to promote reconciliation and justice. The defendant is accused and brought to trial. The trial is held in public, where survivors and the victims’ families can confront the accused. The accused confess to their crimes or maintain their innocence. The villagers can either speak for or against the defendant.

  • US welcomes sentencing of ex-Rwandan army chiefs

    The United States said Thursday the genocide conviction and sentence of ex-Rwandan army chief Augustin Bizimungu shows that even top military officers are not immune from prosecution.

    The four sentenced are Bizimungu, Augustin Ndindiliyimana, a former Rwandan General Francois Xavier Nzuwonemeye, and Innocent Sagahutu.

    Bizimungu was sentenced to 30 years of imprisonment. A general of the Rwandan Armed forces, he held the post of Lieutenant colonel before being promoted to Major General subsequently after the death of the late President Juvenal Habyarimana. 

    “The United States welcomes the ruling as an important step in providing justice and accountability for the Rwandan people and the international community,” State Department spokesman Mark Toner said in a press release.

    “The conviction of Mr. Bizimungu, in particular, shows that even those at the highest levels of military leadership are not immune from prosecution in the face of such grave atrocities,” it said.

    “There are still 10 ICTR fugitives at-large and the United States urges all countries to continue their cooperation with the ICTR so that these fugitives can be expeditiously arrested and brought to justice,” the statement said.

    The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda based in Arusha was established in late 1994 to try the Hutu perpetrators of Rwanda’s genocide which claimed some 800,000 lives, mainly minority Tutsis, in a span of 100 days.

    During the genocide in Rwanda in 1994, Augustin Ndindiliyimana held the position of Chief of Staff of the Gendarmerie Nationale. Ndindiliyimana is alleged to have conspired with his co-accused (Francois Xavier Nzuwonemeye Innocent Sagahutu, Augustin Bizimungu) in the plan to exterminate Tutsis in Rwanda.

    He is also accused for his responsibility for the atrocities committed by forces under his control, including the deaths of ten Belgian peacekeepers in April 1994 which sparked the withdrawal of all Belgian troops from the UN mission in Rwanda. However, ICTR on Tuesday ordered his immediate release, after finding his justifying factors reasonable. Ndindiliyimana,later on expressed his happiness for being released after remaining in detention for 11 years. 

    Nzuwonemeye, a member the Rwandan Armed Forces in 1994, held the rank of major. In 1993, he was commander of a battalion in the FAR ; he was subsequently promoted to commander of the Reconnaissance Battalion.

    The ICTR indictment alleges that between 1990 and 1994, Nzuwonemeye and other officers conspired to exterminate the Tutsi civilians and political opponents, and helped to train interahamwe and militia groups who committed the genocide

    After Habyarimana’s death and the start of the genocide, members of the Reconnaissance Battalion commanded by Nzuwonemeye’s subordinate, Innocent Sagahutu “tracked down, arrested, sexually assaulted, and killed” Rwandan Prime Minister Agathe Uwilingiyimana. They also took into custody ten Belgian peacekeepers from UNAMIR who had been guarding her house, who were later killed.

    Sagahutu a member of the Rwandan Armed forces, in 1994 held the rank of captain. He was second-in-command of the Reconnaissance Battalion (RECCE), serving under battalion commander Major François-Xavier Nzuwonemeye.

    According to the indictment, between 1990 and 1994, Sagahutu and other officers conspired to exterminate Tutsi civilians. They distributed weapons and prepared lists of people to be eliminated. 

    The indictment accused Sagahutu and the four other defendants of conspiring to perpetrate genocide, mass rape, sexual assault, and murder of giving the orders that led to these crimes and of doing nothing to stop the crimes when they took place.

    Sagahutu , after fleeing the country after the RPF victory, was arrested on February 15, 2000. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

  • MTV youth show hosts President Kagame

    Youth drawn from a number of African countries including Rwanda yesterday interviewed President Paul Kagame courtesy of the MTV Base’s “MTV Base Meets…with MTN” programme at Village Urugwiro.

    The President responded to questions from a diverse panel of African youth from Cameroon, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, and South Africa.

    Khaled Mikkawi, the CEO MTN Rwanda described the initiative as a great way to reach out, inspire and connect with the youth across the continent.

    “We are extremely honoured to have President Paul Kagame involved in MTV Base Meets…with MTN,” Mikkawi pointed out.

    Interview recordings of the MTV base meets…With MTN with the President Kagame will be aired across Africa from 18 July this year as part of an eight-series show.

     Recordings will be aired on MTV base (DStv Channel 322), and on terrestrial, DTT and CATV channels including STV (Nigeria), HiTV (Nigeria), WBS (Uganda), NTV (Kenya), Canal2 (Cameroon), Muvi TV (Zambia), Zuku (Kenya), ZAP (Angola), Smart TV (Kenya) and Star Times (Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, and Burundi).

    MTV Base Meets…With MTN is a joint initiative between MTV Networks Africa and MTN Group. It is designed to inspire African youth by connecting them with some of the world’s most influential personalities.

    It is intended to provide greater understanding between the African youth and the political, business and cultural leaders who shape today’s world.

    Other eminent personalities to feature in the series later include Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Africa’s first and only elected female head of state and Julius Malema, the President of the ANC Youth League.

    The show has also featured other prominent personalities including Nelson Mandela, Tony Blair, Morgan Tsvangirai and Wyclef Jean.

    African youth are encouraged to nominate shakers and movers in society and submit their proposed questions for the programme via a dedicated MTV base Meets…with MTN website or via their mobile handset.

    To register go to [www.mtvmeets.com->http://www.mtvmeets.com/] or http://mtvmeets.mobi or follow the campaign on Twitter at #MTVMeets@MTVbaseAfrica.

  • Uncle Austin discloses reason for quitting radio

    Radio 10 presenter and musician Uncle Austin has announced his intentions to quit the broadcasting profession and concentrate on his music. His daily radio show “The Overdrive” will be pined for by his radio fans, who have revealed their concerns during his last shows.

    In the music scene, Uncle Austin is renowned for his hit songs Nzakwizirikaho and Gapapu.

    Austin’s departure from the media remains a dilemma to many since it is through radio that he gained his fame. To clear the air, the artist claimed that his music had reached a critical stage especially among his fans. He gives that as the reason he intends to resign and concentrate on better music delivery.

    “The music industry is doing well now and singing is my calling. I can feel it,” he remarks.

    He further points out that he felt the calling when his first songs received massive attention from his fans, most of them youth from both Rwanda and the region.

     Austin is quick to highlight plans for his music career. Topping the list are video shoots for his latest hits Nakuvala and Nzakwizirikaho due in two weeks.

     The artist whose music is a blend of R&B and Afro fusion is presently working on his debut album produced by Kigali based producer Lick-Lick.

     “Very soon, I’m releasing a new hit called Ndagukunda Nzapfa Ejo,” the artist says.

     Reacting on his poetic title, which translates to why fall in love with someone only to die tomorrow, Austin sighs and declines to comment until the song is out.

     He further discloses that his poetic titles are one of his tricks to capture audience attention. 

  • Rwanda makes more reforms to ease doing business

    Rwanda has introduced new business reforms to make company start-ups and cross border trade easier as it strives to be among the world’s top 30 places to do business by 2017, Clare Akamanzi, chief operating officer of Rwanda’s Development Board announced this week.

    Akamanzi said the new reforms were meant to make it easier for businesses to start, deal with construction permits, register property and trade across borders.

    “We have introduced free online registration and reduced registration fees from 25,000 to 15,000 francs. We have also eliminated certain requirements like the notarising of sale agreement,” Akamanzi told Reuters.

    The World Bank’s 2011 Doing Business report ranked Rwanda the second most pro-business reformer globally, and 58th in terms of ease of doing business, up from 70th a year earlier.