Soothing News: Hear the Sounds of Nu Kigali

www.ozy.com [OZY]( OZY A Modern Media Company Share This Sh*t November 09, 2022 Share This Sh*t [The drop]( SOOTHING NEWS: HEAR THE SOUNDS OF NU KIGALI Spanning soul, Afro-hip-hop, trap and R&B, a new wave of musical talent in Rwanda goes international. Sponsored by [Cariuma]( ‘It’s All Poetry’ Rachel Garuka in Kigali, Rwanda [@RachelGaruka]( [Mike Kayihura](’s “[Zuba](” harmoniously mixes soft beats with soothing vocals in both English and Kinyarwanda, Rwanda’s national language. The track highlights Kayihura’s poetic skill in a performance that tempts listeners to play the song on repeat. Kayihura, 30, is part of a global wave of musical artists who resist limiting themselves to the confines of a specific genre. In Rwanda, this trend has given rise to an increasingly popular cohort of artists known as Nu Kigali. These artists share a common philosophy centered on the idea that they should have control of their work without relying on tastemakers in mainstream media, whether in Rwanda or elsewhere. Kayihura started his career as a poet, occasionally performing at[Spoken Word Rwanda](, a platform that has nurtured the talent of many artists through frequent events over more than a decade. “I don’t rap per se, it’s all poetry,” says Kayihura, who names R&B, soul and hip-hop as genres that he has explored. He calls Stevie Wonder his long-time inspiration, while today he is also a fan of Bruno Mars. As the universe would have it, I met people that had similar visions and dreams, and the rest is history. - Angell Mutoni Born in Nairobi, Kenya, Kayihura joined a church choir when he was 12 years old. “I wasn’t the best student academically,” he says. But finding his voice in the choir opened a door for him. Listen to Mike Kayihura’s album [Zuba on Spotify](. Poet, rapper, singer and songwriter [Angell Mutoni]( kicked off her career in 2015 at age 22. Mutoni’s music is a mix of poetic Afro-hip-hop, pop, R&B and soul — which sounds like a lot, yet there is no clutter, just raw emotion. When you hear tracks “[Imbuto](” and “[Inzozi](,” you might sense an early-2000s R&B aura — which might cause a wave of nostalgia. Mutoni was born into an artistic family. Her father, a musician, helped create her musical foundation. “There was always music being made or played at home, and he used to take us to music events,” Mutoni says, noting that, as far back as she can remember, she wanted to be an entertainer. It was during her high school years that she developed a sense of herself as a musician. “And as the universe would have it, I met people that had similar visions and dreams, and the rest is history.” “I don’t ever want to put myself in one box,” she tells OZY. “I like to give myself the freedom to experiment, and just explore when creating.” Listen to Angell Mutoni’s album [Pandemic Pack.]( ADVERTISEMENT [They’re All The Rage]( Picture this: a sneaker so versatile that it’ll have you bopping around town in the summer in style to picking apples at the orchard in the fall. 🍎 Having a sturdy sneaker that can take you from season to season and place to place is a big win in OZY’s book. That’s why we love [Cariuma’s]( OCA Low-Suede sneakers so much. With over a dozen different colorways, they provide a timeless vibe and go with anything in your closet (literally!). Not to mention, they’re a celeb favorite and have recognition from top outlets such as Vogue, Forbes, Fast Company, and more. These sneakers never go on sale (even for Cyber week), but OZY readers can get [15% off with code, OZYNOV](. [SHOP NOW]( Nu Kigali, Worldwide The sounds of Nu Kigali first found their way to listeners by humble means: The artists’ friends shared the music on social media and in their own neighborhoods, until it became popular in bars, clubs and eventually the homes of strangers. Then promoters came knocking. They wanted Nu Kigali artists like [Bushali](, [B-Threy]( and [Slum Drip]( to feature in concert lineups. Suddenly, the genre had momentum. Obstacles are there, like it is with anything else in life, but I choose to look at the positive side. - Mike Kayihura “It took us some time to popularize this genre,” says B-Threy. “We celebrate how far it has come.” His music features hip-hop beats blended with his fast-paced style of rapping, commonly called chopping, which he delivers primarily in the Kinyarwanda language. Listen to B-Threy’s “[Nicyo Gituma](.” In July this year, Mike Kayihura had his first show outside the country, in Kampala, Uganda. It was a solo concert advertised simply as “A Night with Mike Kayihura.” “It was the first time I ever really showcased my sounds away from home for different people,” he says, adding that it was a huge deal to emerge from the pandemic with a chance to perform “Zuba” for fans beyond Rwanda. His success in Uganda was followed up, earlier this month, with his first show on another continent — at Birmingham Palace, Brussels. “Organizing shows and getting people to show up, and getting paid — it’s happening,” Kayihura tells OZY. “Obstacles are there, like it is with anything else in life, but I choose to look at the positive side.” For him, he says, a significant positive is the chance to create a new genre. ADVERTISEMENT [All ⭐Status]( Step into fall fashion the right way with [Cariuma’s]( OCA High Top Suede sneakers. 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These sneakers never go on sale (even for Cyber week), but OZY readers can get [15% off with code, OZYNOV.]( [LET’S GO]( The Sounds of Kinyatrap A combination of trap, grime, drill and a little Afro-pop, Nu Kigali’s grittiest sub-genre, Kinyatrap, boasts homegrown Rwandan talent that has been developing under the radar since around 2016. To the uninitiated, these songs might appear like a mashup of animated beats and rough commentary, but the musical composition and storytelling behind each track points to a larger cohesive body of work. Had we not been intuitive, Kinyatrap would still be in our diaries. - producer Dr. Nganji The sub-genre takes inspiration from American rappers Gucci Mane, T.I. and Young Jeezy, who pioneered trap music in the U.S. The name “Kinyatrap,” which references the Kinyarwanda language, was coined by producer [Dr. Nganji](, who is the founder of [Green Ferry Music](, a Rwandan entertainment company and record label that is home to almost all Kinyatrappers. He saw in American trap certain flavors that he believed would enrich local music styles. Today, Kinyatrap combines a poetic word flow and unpredictable melodies with stirring beats, in a distinctly Rwandan re-imagination of trap. “Had we not been intuitive, Kinyatrap would still be in our diaries,” Nganji tells OZY. “We had to try a variety of sounds and beats to get the right identity, because we wanted to build something that will stay for generations to come.” Today he is happy to report that Kinyatrap is growing due to talented new artists. “This tells us that its future is in good hands,” he says. Listen to “[Nituebue](” by Bushali ft. B-Threy and Slum Drip. COMING 11/15: OZY'S LATEST DOCUSERIES Get a SNEAK peek [HERE](! ‘We Mostly Need Each Other’ Looking to her musical future, Angell Mutoni says, “I’ve learned that it’s all about strategizing and figuring things out one day at a time. You don’t always need the biggest budget, just the right people and a clear vision.” She says that most of the challenges she has faced to date are financial. “Of course we need investors,” she says. “But we [artists] mostly need each other, to push and fight for this.” When it comes to goals for the future, Mutoni is looking to release an EP before the end of the year. Yet her aspirations go beyond her own music. She wants to assist other young artists who are coming up behind her. “I definitely want to be one of the artists that makes sure the future generation of artists has it easier,” she tells OZY, acknowledging that this is an uphill battle. “As artists, we face many challenges. It’s not easy putting yourself out there — it can drain you mentally, emotionally and physically. I love that artists in our country are slowly being valued and getting the respect they’ve always deserved.” For updates on Mutoni’s music, follow her [on Twitter](. 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