Recently, American actress Mary Fanaro organised a charity event to raise funds to support Rwanda Rocks Music School, which recently found a new home in Kacyiru, Kigali.
Founded by Fanaro’s OmniPeace Foundation, the school started three years ago at a small rent space at Kwetu Film Institute in Nyarutarama, but the future looks promising after the school got its own home.
Fanaro has a background in acting having had leading roles in films like Any Given Sunday (1999), Dave’s World (1993) and Miami Vice (1984) but her love for children made her establish a music school in Rwanda to nurture and amplify the spirit of healing through the power of music as well as create and develop the young generation into future music stars.
She spoke to Sunday Magazine’s Eddie Nsabimana on how the idea to establish a music school in Rwanda came about and her future plans for the school.
What inspired you to start a music school in Rwanda?
When I came to visit Rwanda in 2016 for gorilla trekking, my cab driver was a keyboard player in a church and he asked me to build a music school in Rwanda after he googled me and realised that I had previously built schools in Senegal, Mali, and Malawi.
He suggested to me to bring a music school in Rwanda and I said ‘No’ because I knew nothing about music but, when I went home (USA), a friend of mine connected me to some music manufacturers who provided me with instruments worth Rwf46m ($50,000).
Mary Fanaro is the founder of Rwanda Rocks Music School. / Courtesy
Since donors like Gibson Foundation, Roland, and DW Drums provided guitars, keyboards and drums [respectively], plus a tour company that shipped the instruments to Rwanda for free before I even had a ticket to come back to Rwanda, it was like I had no choice , the instruments were on the way to Rwanda. So I had to come back [laughs].
That’s when I started to say ‘Oh I am starting a music school!’ then I went to the internet to read about ‘How to start a music school ….music school for dummies!’
And that’s it! We started at Kwetu 2016, that was the first school, and then we moved to Gisimba Orphanage in 2018, now this is our new school, our new home in Kacyiru.
We also built the first music school ever in Kiziba refugee camp. And now here we are.
Which music instruments do you have in the school so far?
We have got drums, keyboards and guitars from our sponsors Gibson Foundation, ROLAND, and DW Drums. We have plenty.
How much does one pay to study at Rwanda Rocks?
This is a school for children from the streets and orphans and they study music on a free scholarship. It is a one-year programme where passionate students can sharpen their skills. So far, we have 30 students enrolled at the school.
Your school is obviously on the right track, but what plans do you have for it moving forward?
The plan is to have Rwanda Rocks as the most recognised music school in Kigali, a music school that children can normally acquire music education that can change their lives. The kids come to the music school scared and shy but we groom them, and can now play and sing before the First Lady.
So, the goal is to be the best music school in Rwanda.
And how about their post-school exposure?
I am sure that, after finishing this school, they can perform anywhere. We have started doing performances at public events and their stages are brilliant.
When is the school open for studies?
The school opens from Monday to Friday, from 5.30 pm to 7.30 pm where students attend music studies after class and Saturday from 3 pm.
Do you think music education is important for children?
I have seen music transform the lives of disadvantaged children like nothing I have ever witnessed before.
Music should be part of everybody’s education. It is so important because the music teacher tries not only skills development but also motivates students to have self-esteem and courage, learn to connect, have creative thoughts, and help them open their minds.
editor@newtimesrwanda.com