RWANDAN-BASED CHOREOGRAPHER Djihad has a rarity in the dance scene and has earned a name for himself in Rwanda and East Africa.

Djihad Niyonkuru, popularly known as The Urbansong, is one of the Rwandan choreographers who offer dancing classes to children and adults. 

The 23-year-old dancer, born and raised in Rwanda, has always exhibited a passion for dancing. He's been dancing for 11 years and says he couldn't have made a better decision in pursuing his dreams. He is behind the famed TOTE dance challenge.

"When I was young, I loved music and always slept with a radio on my pillow, so my parent saw it coming,” said the choreographer. "Music and dance chose me, and I also followed it, it is my dream, and it gives me hope for a better future,” he added. 

According to Niyonkuru, his work gives him hope whenever he feels lost or sad, reminding him of who he is. He says that when he started dancing, everyone thought it wasn’t the right path and that he would become a rebel, but everything turned out well.

Although he was in the showbiz industry, he says that he also had to keep his values as a person, and eventually became a dance teacher.

"I had to stay with my values as a dancer and a teacher, when you go before your students, you have to be their role model in some kind of way,” said Niyonkuru.

In 2018, he took some dancing classes in Belgium, which played a significant role in boosting his dance skills. He took his first dance course at a young age and was taught by Isaac Gasangwa, who gave him the basics of being a dancer. 

"I look up to Hope Azeda from Mashirika, she’s a dreamer, and the way she inspires us, we get filled with hope, and that’s something rare to find,” said Niyonkuru.

When it comes to his dancing style, The Urbansong does many dances, including; Contemporary dance, Hip hop, Afrobeat, slat, Dancehall, Kizomba, Bachata, and others. He has been in more than 50 songs so far as a dancer.

Apart from that, The Urbansong has worked with different music icons like Rayvanny, Meddy, Kina Music, plus Mashirika, a renowned performing Arts and Media company in Rwanda and the neighboring regions. 

Niyonkuru teaches more than two dance classes for children and adults, one of which has at least 50 students, especially during weekends. He says that it is one of his ways to reach out to the community and have a positive contribution. Niyonkuru offers dance classes free of charge to his students.

The choreographer also attended East Africa Got talent in 2019 in Kenya, and he said that was one of the best experiences he had as he was beginning his career.

Challenges as a choreographer?

Being a choreographer and doing it as a profession has its ups and downs, according to Niyonkuru, who pointed out different challenges he meets in the industry.

"As a dancer, you go through many things that make you push yourself harder to prove to everyone that you can succeed and that nothing can stop since you love what you are doing,” said Niyonkuru. "Firstly, not everyone understands how you can make money as a dancer since many people think of dancing as only a fun activity,” he added.

The artist believes that it will take time for Rwandan society to recognize dancing as a legitimate career and that as he achieves his goals, his hopes rise.

When asked about his plans for the future,   The Urbansong plans to increase the number of dance classes he gives in Rwanda and internationally. He's on his way there, as he'll be teaching in Germany in the coming months.