Traditional Music of Rwanda

The folk music and dance are taught in amatorero dance orchestras, which are established throughout the country. The very popular of these is known as Ballet national Urukereza, which was established during the early 1970s to represent the Rwanda in the international occasions. Also popular were Irindiro dance troupes and Amasimbi n’amakombe. The ikinimba is possibly the very revered musical custom in Rwanda. The dance tells the stories of Rwanda heroes and their kings, followed by their instruments like ikembe, inanga, ingoma, umuduri and iningiri.

source of picture: goafrica.about.com

The inanga, is a lyre like cord instrument that has been played for many of the Rwanda’s best-known artists which include Rwishyura, Victor Kabarira, Simon Bikindi, Rujjndiri, Simparingoma, Sebatunzi, Kirusu, Sentore and Sophie.

 Jean-Paul Samputu with his orchestra known as Ingeli, won the two times Kora awards (African Grammy awards) for Most Inspiring Artists and Best Traditional Artist in the year 2003 for their show of neo-traditional Rwandan music.

The group travels all over the world distributing the Christian message of peace and reunion, and helps donate fund for the many orphans of Rwanda.  In the year 2007 Samputu introduced the twelve of these orphans called Mizero Children of Rwanda, to travel to United States and Canada. Cyprien Kagorora was nominated for the 2005 Kora award in the group of Best Traditional Artists. He is among the very renowned male vocalists in Rwanda.