It can’t be easy juggling motherhood and music, especially if you have other duties, like a fulltime job. To remain relevant in the music industry, you have to stay on your toes, churning out song after song.

But what do you do when you have a family that needs your attention, studies that require you to invest a lot of time and a passion that you don’t want to let go of? One of those definitely has to be compromised. However, when you are truly passionate about something, you can’t let go for good.

This has been the case for Aisha Uwimana, known by the stage name Ciney. The afro-rap singer who started doing music in 2010 had to take a hiatus from the studio and microphone to focus on other things, particularly motherhood, education and career.

However, her love for music could not let her enjoy her sabbatical and what the soul wants, the soul does. You probably remember her in songs like ‘Tuma Bavuga’ (2013) and ‘Get your money’, the 2014 song encouraging girls to work for their own money rather than depend on handouts.

After a long break, on July 23, Ciney released her latest song ‘For me’, which she is now using to relaunch her career.

Born in 1992 in Libreville, Gabon to Rwandan parents Eugenie Somayire and Ernest Rudasingwa, the first born of six siblings says her love for music dates way back, perhaps when she was still in her mother’s womb.

"I love music. I remember dancing to all songs and also writing songs in notebooks and before I started doing music, I remember that everyone who would see me that time would be like you will be a star,” she says with a chuckle, adding that her love for music is what pushed her to do it.

"I had a feeling that I could do it. That was the first reason. The other was that there were few women in music, especially when it comes to hip-hop, and something was pushing me to contribute,” Ciney points out.

Ciney feels like she is able to express herself through dance and music because she believes music is a language that everyone can understand. Music runs through her blood. Her mum and aunties used to mention how her grandfather was among the top ‘Intore’ dancers at the King’s palace.

In her family, each and every person is musically talented in one way or another and she is not the only one doing music professionally, but also, singer Yvan Buravan, who happens to be a first cousin.

Though she had reached somewhere with her music, Ciney had to take a break to focus on marriage, being a mother of two, and also completing her university course, which she could not juggle with music because "music really needs time.”

"Sometimes you need to spend three or four days in the studio and it was hard for me, you know, having two little kids and school and with that whole thing of being a mother, it was all new to me, so I was like let me take a pause a little bit and see if I can first of all, find time for myself.”

Though she had been doing music low-key during her supposed break, Ciney felt she needed to do music seriously again because her soul was pushing her to do a comeback, alongside her other hustles.

"I think it is the right time for me. Now, I have big reasons to actually work hard and do something that I love the most. It’s my choice,” she says, adding that her latest single is more about her and how she feels.

She says people have been going through a lot, including the Covid-19 pandemic, people lost their jobs and livelihoods, so the song is about one trying to feel good against all odds.

It didn’t matter much that she relaunched her music career during the Covid-19 pandemic because she was not going to wait for it to subside, given that the pandemic shows no signs of going anywhere soon. 

All she wanted was to do something she loves, regardless of the prevailing circumstances and the fact that there are no concerts or other ways of making money. She is happy with people seeing what she can do on YouTube or other platforms and she looks forward to pushing until Covid-19 goes away.

She also appreciates that the music industry has evolved over the years, but she will also evolve with it. Nothing will stop her.

 "I am ready. I’m in the studio and yeah, expect more music and not in very long time. Yes. I believe in God’s timing,” Ciney says, adding that she has come back into it with all her heart, regardless of challenges that could come along the way.

Motherhood

"It is hard. It is really hard,” says Ciney, adding that sometimes what she has planned doesn’t work out because the kids will get into the plans, whether it was an interview, phone or TV appearance.

However, she says she also found out that motherhood is something that comes with multitasking skills. "You always find a way to manage,” she says, pointing to her own experience where she didn’t only have to juggle motherhood and studies, but also a fulltime job.

"It’s not easy but again it’s about discipline and just being organised,” she says, adding that most times she has to maximise her time for all to fit in.

The music industry

On the changes in the industry, Ciney says there has been a lot of improvement in terms of production, collaborations and also technology, so she has had to adjust to fit in.

In regard to sexual harassment, Ciney says women and girls should never trade their bodies for something they believe they can do, like inborn talent. If a producer solicits sexual favours, find another one. Offering sexual favours always doesn’t end well and that person can’t define your talent.

With a supportive partner, Ciney believes her rejuvenated music career will impact and empower girls to stand by their dreams and reject all gender norms that tell them that they can’t do something.