Rwanda: DJ Pius to release new album

Iwacu features 17 songs and will be available on online platforms Wasafi, iTunes and Spotify as well as in local music stores in Rwanda and Uganda.

“I have given a lot of time, investments and patience to this album,” DJ Pius told Music In Africa. “I have been compiling Iwacu for two years. The general public should expect a unique touch of Afro-fusion, which is very diverse, as well as our own Rwandese sound.”

He said that the launch would be headlined by Ugandan artist Jose Chameleone alongside most of the acts he had collaborated with on the project.

They include MC Galaxy (Nigeria), Solidstar (Nigeria), Lady Jaydee (Tanzania), Magnom (Ghana), Gabu (Kenya) and Weasel (Uganda) and Pallasso (Uganda).

“I featured as many international artists as possible because I wanted to place Rwandan music on the African scene. I would like to participate in the growth and recognition of African music and Rwanda's creativity industry," DJ Pius said, adding that most of the songs featured on the album had been recorded in Kampala.

“I am always in Uganda. I have friends and I do most of my audio recordings there. I spent my childhood there because my parents were forced out of Rwanda in the 1970s. I returned to Rwanda after the genocide of 1994.”

Asked what the main obstacle was while compiling Iwacu, DJ Pius said: “The funds. I am an independent artist without a record label, so all of these projects were either funded directly by me or by contributions from my friends and supporters.”

He said he would also unveil the album to his fans in Musanze, Rwanda, on 4 August. The artist would then embark on a tour throughout Africa, Europe and the US.

“My team is setting up the tour dates, which I will be announcing soon,” DJ Pius said.