Rwandan poet Sylvester Nsengimana is set to launch his debut poetry album, Tears In A Verse, in Paris, France, this February—a project he describes as a deeply personal journey of sorrow, resilience, and truth.

The Paris launch follows his selection for the Goethe Mobility Grant under the Africa-Europe Partnerships for Culture (Sub-Saharan Africa component), a programme that supports short-term travel for artists and cultural professionals across Africa and Europe.

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In an interview with The New Times, Nsengimana said he submitted his 17-piece album as a way of amplifying stories and sparking meaningful conversations through poetry. Out of more than 600 applicants, only 55 artists were selected.

"I was very happy when I received the admission email. I couldn’t believe it and had to read it several times,” he said.

"The competition was intense, and being the only Rwandan selected at an African level made it even more meaningful.”

"This is more than recognition. It reminds me that poetry belongs to the people—it should not live only in solitude,” he added.

Nsengimana explained that Tears In A Verse was born out of deeply personal experiences and emotional moments in his life. While the poems began as a form of self-expression and healing, he believes they speak to shared human realities.

"The poetry we write in solitude is not just our own voice,” he said. "Everyone can find themselves in it. Healing sometimes comes from realizing that someone else understands your story.”

"I wrote these poems to remind people that pain can be transformed into power, and silence into song. This is not just a story—I am offering my heart through poetry, a mirror for anyone who has carried tears in secret.”

The bilingual album, written in both Kinyarwanda and English, features collaborations with other poets. Poems on the album include Ingandukiramuruho, A Last Dance, Above All, Ubusizi Si Ubwaso featuring MvaKnow, and Ntibagikobwa, among others.

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Unlike a traditional album launch, Nsengimana’s Paris debut will unfold across several cultural spaces, including theatres and poetry venues, where he will perform and engage directly with audiences.

"It will not be a typical album launch,” he said. "I will move between different spaces at different times, share snippets of my poems, and allow people to read and interact with my work. I want dialogue, not just performance.”

"I am bringing poetry into spaces of exchange, where voices meet and stories connect. I am echoing from the land of a thousand hills, from East Africa, from the sub-Saharan region.”

Nsengimana believes the experience will contribute significantly to his artistic growth and help strengthen Rwanda’s poetry scene.

"I want to learn from Europe’s developed poetry culture—especially spoken word and slam poetry—and return with knowledge that can help grow our poetry industry at home,” he said, adding that he hopes to initiate future collaborations.

From book to album

While the album will debut through live performances and interactions in Paris, the poems have already been compiled into a book that was previously released. Nsengimana plans to officially launch the album in Rwanda later this year.

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"I will start in Kigali with small listening sessions for close friends and fellow artists to get feedback, then continue in different districts outside the capital,” he said.

Asked what he hopes audiences will take away from the album, Nsengimana said he wants it to serve as a mirror of shared experience.

"I want people to remember the album as a shared mirror—where everyone can see themselves and feel understood,” he said.

"Sometimes healing is found in meeting someone who understands you and can share your story.”

According to Nsengimana, the poems reflect everyday realities and highlight stories that are often overlooked. The 17-piece collection has been completed, and he is currently finalising studio recordings ahead of his departure for Paris.

The project follows his debut poetry EP Mu Rwanda, which celebrated culture and identity, while Tears In A Verse focuses more deeply on self-expression and emotional truth.