Renowned RnB singer-songwriter and radio presenter Andy Bumuntu believes that art has the power to construct or dismantle societies.

This was during the 'Ku Gicaniro' (Bonfire) event, on April 12, where the 'Snack' singer was a panelist, addressing hundreds of members of the Peace and Love Proclaimers (PLP), a youth organisation committed to unity, peace, and development.

The yearly event, held under the theme: "Rising from ashes: 30 years of resilience and renewal", aims to commemorate 30 years of 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, educate the youth about the causes and consequences of the Genocide highlighting youth&039;s role and responsibility in preventing such atrocities both now and in the future.

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Bumuntu said that art was used during the Genocide to fuel hatred and spread false information about the ethnic Tutsi, who later became victims of the false message.

"When we talk about art, it's not just music. We're referring to songs that promoted violence, artworks portrayed Tutsi as animals with tails, leading some to believe Tutsi actually have tails, and other dehumanising portrayals of them."

To put this into perspective, creative artists example of Simon Bikindi used artistic creativity to incite genocide. His radical songs such as "Bene Sebahinzi" (Sons of farmers), "Nanga Abahutu" (I hate Hutu) were very popular, and his voice dominated the airwaves when his songs were played many times a day on Radio Télévision Libre des Mille Collines (RTLM) airwaves during the Genocide.

Songs also manipulated the history of Rwanda to extol Hutu solidarity with the specific intent to disseminate pro-Hutu ideology, and anti-Tutsi propaganda and encourage division.

The 'Valentine' singer went on to emphasise that fashion was also used to provide uniforms to killers, like the Interahamwe militias, which were accompanied by negative words, fuelling the killings.

"Another important side of art is that it has a unique ability to express emotions and messages that are sometimes difficult to convey verbally. While you might feel a certain way without fully understanding it, art allows you to convey those feelings through visual representation. Artists can create songs or pieces that resonate with others, making them feel understood or as if their thoughts are being voiced through arts" he noted.

"In this regard, I disagree that art is merely a career; it's more akin to spreading a gospel. People often emulate the actions of their favourite celebrities. Therefore, we can't dismiss art as just a profession, as misuse of it can influence many people negatively," he said.

On the other hand, he continued, music played a crucial role in rebuilding the country, particularly during the liberation struggle and in healing wounds after the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. It served to boost morale on the battlefield and provided solace in the aftermath of tragedy.

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Using talents effectively

For Bumuntu, Rwandans are like a tree, sharing roots, whether enduring dry spells or flourishing in the rainy season.

He noted: "Ndi Umunyarwanda, has brought us to where we&039;re now. Embracing patriotism is everyone's duty. It's an obligation. Remember, wrongdoing can cause great harm not just individually but In general and that should be avoided. We must not regress as a nation."

He added: "Every individual possesses talent, no matter how small. Let's use it effectively for collective gain - to build our country."