US-based Rwandan artiste Kamichi has unveiled plans to release his last music album before he shifts focus towards supporting new talented artistes. Real name Adolphe Bagabo, the singer, songwriter and former journalist at Voice of Africa told Weekender that he is considering a big break, after the upcoming album.
"There will be no more big projects from me. That will be the last one,” Kamichi said.
This will be the fourth album after his debut album ‘Mudakumirwa’, the second ‘Ubumuntu’, and the third ‘Umugabirwa’.
"The album will be out by February 2023. I have written 14 songs and I am yet to decide which to include on the album.”
When asked if this will mark the end of his music career he replied, "I don’t plan on retiring from music; I’ll be around. I won’t let my fans down, I will be recording singles and EPs.”
He shared that helping fellow artistes is a dream he has had since he joined the music industry.
"It was too much work for me to balance the two. Though I have some songs that connect to my Rwandan people, I will keep on working to give substance to what I do as well as help my fellow artistes,” he said.
Kamichi shared that he has always been in a position to help fellow artistes, as a journalist and songwriter, whenever he could. However, this time around there is a difference.
"I have always been helping fellow artistes, the only difference now is the amount of money I need to invest in producing artistes. Most business people in Rwanda don’t believe in them, and I know how frustrating it can be for a gifted person not to be supported,” said Kamichi.
Currently, Kamichi is helping two artistes, T Chriss the Don and Dice Jabiro. He said that he first met them when he was looking for songwriters to help him with his last album and he was so impressed with their writing and singing skills that he decided to help them. Singer Kenny Sol is also one of the writers who has been working with Kamichi.
He considered supporting T Chriss and Jabiro after he remembered how he also used to write songs for most artistes for free, except Dream Boyz that paid him for writing ‘Iteka n’iteka’ and Meddy for writing ‘Inkoramutima’. He said that if the artistes convince him enough he can even consider starting a music label.
Frank Ndanyuzwe, also known as Spaceman who linked Kamichi with the two artistes, tells this paper that both will work as independent artistes. "Each had a song or two before meeting Kamichi and he was so impressed with their talents. So, he is helping them financially in regards to song production and soon they will be releasing some,” says Ndanyuzwe. Kamichi is planning to come to Rwanda for some performances next year.