22-Year-Old Wanny Umutoni Stuns Rwanda with New Song ‘Umwiza’

[Photo Credit:The New Times]

By Kinyua Mwangi

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When Rwanda Afro-pop artiste Bruce Melody turned to Gakondo style of music in his latest release, there was huge debate. His fans felt that he had fallen off the game and they did not expect this at all because he had carved a niche in his stuff which though widely viewed and listened to, has earned him backlash over ITS explicit nature.

A while back, the government called him out over several of his songs which it described as “raunchy”. However, even as artistes lean more on contemporary genres of music such as rap, RnB, hip hop, Afro beat and Afro pop, 22-year old Wanny Umutoni has taken the unpopular route to delve into Gakondo music.

Umutoni says that her inspiration to do Gakondo-styled music is informed by the need to sell the culture of Rwanda more and beyond its borders.

Her childhood has always been in music albeit in a church choir but had developed a liking for Gakondo music over the years.

In 2019, she performed one of the songs from this genre at her sister’s wedding and it gave her a lot of inspiration. This is when she made a bold decision to pursue this genre as she makes a career in music.

Shortly after, she started getting invitations to perform in various weddings although she had not done a song of her own but she always thrilled the audience with classic hits originally done by Kamaliza and Cecile Kayirebwa.

Feeling challenged, she composed several songs and produced them in Gakondo style.

‘Umwiza’ is her first song that has been welcomed with open arms by her fans. She says that Gakondo music can be enjoyed just like other genres in Rwanda.

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