Music is my food–13-year old guitarist

The most captivating quality of ADAM HABIMANA is not the fact that he can easily switch from singing to playing guitar. But rather, it is his distinctively heartfelt love for music, and his vocals are coupled with his ability to communicate passionately through refined lyrics at the tender age of thirteen. The New Times’ JOSEPH OINDO had a chat with the youngster. Excerpts:When did you realise that you had a passion for the guitar?When I was only seven years old, I used to listen to my older brother Didier playing the guitar and I wanted to be like him. He is an established and a very good guitar player. He was my role model when it came to music and life in general. After he saw my interest in becoming a guitar player like him, he started teaching me from that young age and I have never looked back. I can say that he was my mentor since he started teaching me at a very young age and my interest grew as I also grew up. What other interests do you have?I like dancing and singing. I not only play guitar but I’m also a good dancer. Right now, my cousin Mani Martin, who has also had a great influence on me as far as music is concerned, is teaching me how to sing back-up vocals.Who has been your major influence in your young music career so far?I come from a family that music runs in its blood. My father is a great base guitar player and I can say that he also had a major influence as far as my music is concerned. You see your father playing instruments and you tell yourself that “I want to be like him when I grow up.”My brother, Didier is my major influence because he was the one who saw my talent and introduced me to the world of music. He is a former Kesho Band Music director. My other elder brother Jackson Dado is also a music producer and Mani Martin is a very talented singer and songwriter. Certainly Mani Martin has also had a huge influence on me.Have you decided that you want to take up music as your career or you still want to study and see what other alternative life will offer?Yes, just like any other normal boy who wants to become someone in the future, I attend school. You must have many options in life. I have not yet decided if it’s music that I want to do for a living, because music career in Rwanda has its fair share of challenges. Besides, I’m still too young and I depend on my parents for advice. My parents still want me to do both music and attend school. And my passion in music is also very strong. I will see how things pan out in the future but for now, school is equally very important. Your last word...I wish I could be able to teach all the Rwandan parents, to let their children show up their talents because some time it is not easy for a Rwandan young child to be able to express themselves and showcase the talent they have got!

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Music is my food–13-year old guitarist