The second group we recorded at Jado’s studio in Kigali was the Impara Band, one of the pioneer bands of Afro-Cuban music in Rwanda. Impara is Rwandan for Impala. The band was founded in 1975 and originally had 9 members. They lost 7 of their members during the Rwandan genocide in 1994. The two remaining members, Sebigeri Paul and Ngenzi Fidel, were traumatised by the genocide but over time came together again and continued to write and perform. The third member, Munyanshoza Dieudonne, joined later. He is best known for writing songs about the genocide. His most famous one is called Mibirizi and that has become his stage name. This song contains the names of many people who died in the genocide and pleads for it to never happen again.
Band members:
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- Sebigeri Paul, stage name Mimi La Losse. Guitar and Vocals
- Ngenzi Fidel, stage name Jacal, i.e. Jackel. Vocals
- Munyanshoza Dieudonne, stage name Mibirizi. Vocals
Songs:
- Nyirabisabo, a woman’s name. Traditional song about a man who uses witchcraft to woo a woman. A love song.
- Mwari Urarizwa Niki. Mwari means bride. Traditional song for women getting married. Telling them not to cry, that they will have a new life and will create a new family. Traditionally marriages were arranged and the bride would meet her husband for the first time on her wedding day. She would be scared and sad to leave her family.
- Ntugasaze, “Never Get Old”. Traditional song about the appreciation of the elders and all they have done in their lives.
- Nyiramariza, a girl’s name. Traditional song about a girl who is very elegant and would never work. She was so aloof and superior that she would only speak to white people and forgot to speak Kinyarwanda, the language of Rwanda. It’s a humourous song.
- Mibirizi, the place where Munyanshoza Dieudonne is from. Original song written by him. This song is about the genocide in 1994. 60% of the song is reading the names of friends and others who died, mostly Tutsi. It emphasises that the genocide must never happen again. It speaks of how Mibirizi used to be a village of life, laughter and music. Now it is quiet and somber. This song became very popular in Rwanda and is played as a protest against racism and genocide.
Recording order – all performed by the Impara band except the last one:
- Nyiramariza
- Nyirabisabo Take 1
- Mwari Urarizwa Niki
- Ntugasaze
- Nyirabisabo Take 2
- Mibirizi Take 1 sung by Munyanshoza Dieudonne
- Mibirizi Take 2 sung by Munyanshoza Dieudonne