Rwanda: Inanga player Deo Munyakazi to release debut album

The concert will be streamed live via Munyakazi's official Facebook page. The announcement comes after the release of 'Ndi Amahoro' on 25 May.

"'Ndi Amahoro' is the last track of my album," he told Music In Africa. "It is a gospel song on how God's mercy triumphs over judgment. If the song doesn't create in you a worshipful spirit, nothing will. I also hope this comforts people during this coronavirus pandemic."

Apart from religion, the album's themes touch upon social life, culture, and traditions. Humanity and peace is the message on 'Emirembe', a collaboration with Ugandan traditional musicians Ssewa Ssewa and Giovanni Kiyingi.

"The album arrays the beauty of the world in its diversity, and I thought these to be mature themes to tackle for the audience," Munyakazi said. "When listening to this album, I would like my listeners to remember that it's much easier to keep the right attitude in life and be compassionate about others."

Munyakazi says he hopes the album will take his art to a wider audience. The release of 'Urakwiriye Mwami' in 2016 gave him national recognition as a young musician reviving the inanga, a six- to a nine-string harp-like instrument that is also played in Burundi and Uganda.

Munyakazi has since staged performances at major music events including the I Am Kigali and Ubumuntu Arts festivals in Rwanda, Ongea Music Summit in Kenya, Ongala Festival in Tanzania and Pop-Kultur in Germany, among others.

"Before I took the Inanga, people thought that the instrument was for the older-generation musicians and not the young generation," he said. "I am glad to have witnessed a shift in these thoughts. In the past few years, I have seen young artists incorporate the inanga in their work. I am glad to have inspired that."

He also spoke about his experience at a February music production workshop in Zanzibar that brought together electronic and traditional artists.

"I was fortunate to be selected. I had the opportunity of meeting new musicians and discovering the techniques of electronic music. Fusing these two sounds is a good way of paying homage to our roots but at the same time it is appealing to the younger audience in reference to what's trending," Munyakazi said.

Listen to Isoko Dusangiye here.