Hosted at L’ ESPACE in Kacyiru on the night of July 21, the Inanga Concert was attended by several people who enjoyed the traditional Inanga music from the beginning to end. It was organized by Inanga music pioneer, Deo Munyakazi.
The concert, dubbed ‘Inkuru y’Inanga’, was headlined exclusively by Inanga musicians as part of Munyakazi’s renewed quest to revive and promote the music genre among Rwandans through various concerts.
His performance seems to be a big occasion for a remarkable comeback to the music scene after a series of hurdles that were motivated by the covid-19 pandemic.
The concert lineup included Munyakazi as main headliner, Jean Marie Vianney Mushabizi, who taught him the instrument, female Inanga musician Sophie Nzayisenga, and Esther Niyifasha, one of Munyakazi’s students, and Daniel Ngarukiye among others.
Munyakazi started his musical journey in 2016. Using the ‘Inanga,’ a traditional music instrument, the artiste showed class and commitment in producing music that preserves the Rwandan culture.
His talent earned him opportunities to perform at a number of renowned local, regional and international festivals including I Am Kigali Festival, Ubumuntu Arts Festival in Rwanda, Ongea Festival in Nairobi, Kenya and Pop-Kultur Festival in Berlin, Germany, to name a few.
Esther Niyifasha who is also the sister of Deo Munyakazi playing inanga during Inkuru y’inanga concert.
Jerry Mugwiza,one of the attendees applauds for Niyifasha’s performance at the Concert.
Daniel Ngarukiye playing Inanga in the show . Ngarukiye played a number of lyrical songs that include, “Gira amata”, “Ikibungenge”, “Rubanguzankwaya” and “Iwacu muraho”.
Munyakazi chats with the audience as he was asked to repeat a song
Deo Munyakazi sings some songs of his debut album ‘Isoko Dusangiye that he released in 2020.
Hilder Cannodt who dances some of Deo Munyakazi’s songs, entertaining the audience
As Munyakazi thrills the audience ,some of them were capturing videos and pictures of his live performance
A group photo during the concert .
Some of the audience joined Munyakazi to entertain the show. Seen here dancing his song
All inanga players during a joint performance to mark their full support to the organizer of Inkuru y’Inanga Concert in Kigali on July. (From Left , Daniel Ngarukiye, iIanga player legend Jean Marie Vianney Mushabizi, Deo Munyakazi, Well known female inanga player Sophie Nzayisenga, and the upcoming inanga player Esther Niyifasha .
Inkuru y’Inanga Concert attracted different people. According to Munyakazi , the concert was prepared for reuniting with his audience after the Covid 19 era. And his effort to promote traditional Rwandan music has paid off.
Inanga player legend Jean Marie Vianney Mushabizi entertains the audience. Using a traditional musical instrument inanga, the old man surprised the audience with his 40 year old songs like Mpunga urabenga, Bisangwa bya Rugombituri, Urutango rwa Nyiranzage .
The venue was mainly bringing a rare impression because of the decoration and lighting.
Inanga music lovers follow Munyakazi’s performance . Some of them said that Munyakazi’s effort to promote traditional Rwandan music has paid off.
Inkuru y’Inanga concert was organized to revive and promote the Inanga music genre among Rwandans
The Inanga player Deo Munyakazi’s father shares moment with his son while commenting on the rolling of the Inkuru y’Inanga Concert
The audience feel inanga music during the concert
The leading professional female inanga player in Rwanda,Sophie Nzayisenga ,a song writer and inanga player legend thrills the audience with number of her songs that mostly narrate stories of the ancient Rwanda.
The audience follow Sophie Nzayisenga’s performance
According to Munyakazi the concert was an occasion to set a reminder that safeguarding Rwandan culture should not be a responsibility for some but everyone
The singer Munyakazi used this concert to present his album to the audience.
A joint performance to mark the full support to the organizer of Inkuru y’Inanga Concert in Kigali on July 21.
The famous local poet Rumaga who is also traditional music lover attended the concert
Munyakazi and his fellow Inanga performers did all their best to thrill the audience with the most loved inanga songs.
Munyakazi with Inanga players who turn up to support him seen here in a group photo as they conclude Inkuru y’Inanga Concert in Kigali on July 21. All photos by Craish Bahizi
