In 2010, a young man with a guitar stepped onto the stage of Tusker Project Fame, the East African reality-singing competition that captivated audiences across the region and beyond. Gilbert Gabiro Girishyaka, popularly known by his stage name Gabiro Guitar, then already carried an unmistakable presence and a voice that resonated far beyond the borders of Rwanda. Viewers sent text messages, voted in droves, and quickly took him to their hearts.

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Even though he did not win, years later, Gabiro built a career in music, releasing popular songs such as Koma and Igikwe, earning respect for artistry and dedication.

Today, in Nzige Sector, Rwamagana District, the young man who once lit up television screens has found a different kind of stage. Gone are the microphones and spotlights. The 36-year-old now wakes to the crowing of roosters, the clucking of chickens, the mooing of cows, and the gentle rustle of banana leaves.

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Nestled in rolling hills, Nzige is a quiet stretch of farmland where life moves with the calm rhythm of the countryside. Fields of maize, beans, and bananas shape the landscape, tended by farmers who know every curve of the land. The community thrives on collaboration. Neighbours help fix roads, build schools, and share what they have, which gives the place a spirit that grows organically, from the soil and the hands that till it.

Here, the rhythm that once guided Gabiro’s music now guides his work in agriculture. And the passion he had for performance is reflected in the care he gives to every chicken, cow, and egg tray.

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Well-groomed and composed, as one would expect of a star, Gabiro remains grounded. Deeply committed to his work, he sometimes hosts producers on his farm for weeks at a time, creating, recording, and collaborating amidst the quiet rhythm of the fields.

Make no mistake: today, Gabiro remains one of Rwanda’s most gifted musicians. When he touches a song, his artistry is unmistakable. Yet he has found peace in the place he least expected; the farm.

Gabiro Guitar’s name became synonymous with talent and perseverance during his time on Tusker Project Fame.

"It was a big break for me,” he recalls.

"I was young, hungry, and passionate about music. The stage gave me confidence and the exposure to dream big,” he says.

Though the competition introduced him to a wider audience, his musical journey began long before. He grew up in a family of seven, balancing academics with an early fascination for melody and rhythm.

"My young age was spent in Gikondo. That’s why people know me there,” he says. Music was always his companion, a constant in the shifting landscapes of his youth. Even before Tusker Project Fame, he imagined a life surrounded by notes, chords, and harmonies.

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After the competition, Gabiro continued building his music career. His songs, including Koma and Igikwe, showcased his talent in songwriting and performance, earning him a loyal fanbase.

"The experience taught me so much about resilience,” he reflects. "It gave me openings to understand what real life outside the studio and stage could be.”

When music meets survival

Television fame offered exposure, but success required pragmatism. Gabiro balanced music with work, taking on jobs such as a night manager while studying and continuing to produce music on the side.

"Even after Tusker Project Fame, I had to work,” he says matter-of-factly. "Music was part of me, but I also needed to eat.”

This blend of artistry and practicality eventually opened doors to entrepreneurship and agribusiness.

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"You get to a point where you ask yourself: what am I really building?” he says.

"Fame is good, but it doesn’t pay the bills consistently. You need stability.”

Gabiro’s approach was never about giving up on his dreams; it was about expanding them. He saw opportunities in multiple worlds and decided to explore them, fully.

"It’s not the kind of stage I imagined when I burst into the spotlight over a decade ago,” he says with an easy smile, adding, "guitar in hand and a voice that made me one of the standout contestants of Tusker Project Fame. Every phase of life teaches you something new. What matters is that you keep growing.”

He had already been singing and writing songs before the competition, but Tusker Project Fame refined his craft, introduced him to a professional network and gave him fans across the region.

For a while, everything seemed perfectly aligned, until life threw him unexpected challenges, including the passing of his father, which changed the course of his life.

"I went through a lot,” he says, softly. "Losing my father hit me hard. And there were times I just had to pause everything; the studio sessions, the performances, the dream, and breathe.”

During this period, he explored entrepreneurship; first working as a night manager at a hospitality establishment while balancing occasional gigs and recording sessions and poultry farming.

Accidental farmer

The first time Gabiro set foot on a farm, it wasn’t to sing. He was helping a friend who raised chickens when he discovered the immense potential of agribusiness.

"I saw how fast things could move, the cycle, the returns, the sustainability,” he says. "I thought, this is something I can grow with.”

Gabiro then set up his farm on his family land in Nzige Sector, deciding to carry on his father’s legacy while creating a business that could support him. He focused on layers and broilers.

"In the beginning, I didn’t even have enough capital,” he laughs. "I had to skip studio sessions sometimes just to save money for the farm.”

Today, his poultry project houses 700 birds, producing roughly 150 trays of eggs a week. He also keeps a few cows, about six, to be exact, whose milk supplements the farm’s income. He has a seven-acre banana plantation from which he harvests 5-tonnes of bananas in a good season.

"It’s still a young farm,” he says, "but I can now see the vision coming to life.”

What started as a survival project has grown into a business and, unexpectedly, a sanctuary.

"This place is therapy for me,” he explains. "I come here, meditate, even write my music. Sometimes I bring my producers, and we stay here for weeks working on projects.”

‘Building something of your own gives you freedom’

The transition from stage to farm wasn’t easy. It required unlearning old habits, facing new challenges, and embracing a different rhythm of life.

"There were moments I doubted myself,” he admits. "You lose opportunities, you see people moving faster than you, and you ask if you’ve made the right choice. But then you realize growth isn’t always loud,” the Koma singer says.

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The farm became his space for healing after personal loss, business setbacks, and moments of uncertainty. "I had to mourn my father while trying to figure out who I was without the stage lights,” he says. "But I also learned to find peace in work, in doing something tangible,” he adds.

Over time, he began to see the beauty of ownership — something he believes every young person should experience.

"Ownership is sweet,” he says. "I remember losing a good job once, and I spent so much time chasing another one. Now I see that building something of your own gives you freedom, even when things are tough.”

Bridging art and agriculture

Gabiro is not giving up on music. Far from that, he believes his journey as a farmer has deepened his creativity.

"Farming has taught me patience,” he says. "It’s like music. You plant, you nurture, you wait, and one day you harvest.” He continues to record and has been working on new projects, some of which will be released under his creative agency, GG Agency, co-run with some partners. "We’re working on music videos, collaborations, and creative content that also speaks to business and self-reliance,” he says.

Through his experiences, Gabiro hopes to show that it’s possible to thrive in multiple worlds and that an artist can be a creator and an entrepreneur. "We artists love to do things privately, but I want to open up and show that we can do more than perform. We can build.”

Advocacy and giving back

Beyond business, Gabiro sees his journey as part of a larger mission, which is to inspire and advocate for young people, especially artists struggling to find their footing.

"I want to go into advocacy for youth and creatives because at the end of the day, I’m creating jobs and contributing to something bigger.”

He believes artists should be at the forefront of promoting innovation and financial independence. "We are role models, whether we like it or not,” he says.

"If I can show that an artist can run a farm, create employment, and still make good music, then maybe someone else will believe it’s possible,” he points out.

He dreams of mentorship spaces where younger musicians can learn about art, financial management, business, and sustainability.

"There’s a lot of talent in Rwanda,” he says, "but we lack structures that guide us. The information isn’t passed down.”

For Gabiro, this is a generational issue. "People like Masamba and others who came before us. We should be learning from them. But that gap still exists. We need more conversations between generations of artists. We need mentorship.”

Challenges along the way

Like any farmer, Gabiro has had his share of struggles.

"Capital was the hardest part. Starting out, you need money for feed, equipment, and vaccines. They are not cheap.”

He also learned that agribusiness demands constant attention. "You can’t treat it like a hobby,” he says. "Chickens need care every day. If you skip even one, you lose a lot.”

The learning curve was steep, but so were the rewards. "When I see the eggs being collected, or the cows healthy, it gives me joy,” he says. "It’s not just about money. It’s seeing something grow because of your effort,” says the singer-turned-farmer.

The demand for eggs, milk, and poultry products in Rwanda remains high, which gives him confidence to keep expanding. "The market is ready,” he says. "The challenge is keeping up with quality and scaling sustainably.”

Dreaming beyond the coop

Now, Gabiro is setting his sights higher. He’s studying ways to venture into egg powder production; a business he believes could tap into Rwanda’s growing food-processing sector. "Everyone is doing poultry now,” he says. "So, I want to go beyond the usual and add value.”

He has been researching the process and looking for partnerships or grants to help him set up the next phase. "Egg powder is something I’ve seen abroad and even in local supermarkets,” he explains. "It has a longer shelf life and could reduce waste from surplus eggs.”

His dream is to turn his Nzige-based project into a model farm that demonstrates how creativity and agriculture can coexist. "Food security is a national priority,” he says. "If artists and young people get involved, we can make a real difference.”

A spirit that refuses to surrender

At the heart of Gabiro’s story is resilience. "I’ve been through hardships, but I never surrendered. Every time I fall, I start again. I’m not a loser. I’m a starter.”

He credits his Rastafarian philosophy for grounding him through ups and downs.

"I’m a real Rasta,” he says with a grin. "I do my thing with love and faith. I don’t compete. I just grow.”

For now, he balances his time between the farm and the studio, drawing strength from both. "When I’m on the farm, I think clearly,” he says. "When I’m in the studio, I pour that energy into my music. It’s a beautiful balance.”

Lessons from the soil

Looking back, Gabiro says the journey has taught him humility and patience. "If I could tell my younger self something, it would be: everyone is unique and has their own timing,” he says.

"Don’t rush. Every step counts.”

He believes the youth should stop waiting for perfect conditions before starting. "Life doesn’t reward those who play safe,” he says. "Go out there, try, fail, start again. Ownership and risk are part of growth,” he says.

And to the artists still chasing fame, he offers gentle advice: "Use your talent, but also think beyond it. Build something that lasts. Music can open doors, but it’s what you do with that opportunity that defines your future.”

In many ways, Gabiro’s story mirrors Rwanda’s own - a story of reinvention, resilience, and faith in self-reliance.

"I think everything is happening in the right timing,” he says. "Maybe this was always meant for me.”

He still strums his guitar, still writes songs, and still dreams, but now, his melodies rise alongside the hum of his chicken house and the rustle of feed bags. For him, success is no longer just about applause.

"It’s about peace,” he says softly. "About creating, about giving back, about seeing life grow.”

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