The recently concluded Giants of Africa Festival 2023, held at BK Arena, was proof that the Rwandan music industry and its players still have a long way to go. The week-long festival attracted some of the best musicians on the continent, including the likes of Davido, Tiwa Savage and Diamond Platnumz, all of whom headlined either the opening or closing concert of what has been hailed as the best festival ever held in the Rwandan capital. From their fashion sense, dance skills and teamwork to their live performances and the way they interact with their fans, the three artistes have certainly left Rwandan artistes with a lot to learn. The New Times highlights five important things Rwandan artistes can learn from Davido, Tiwa Savage and Diamond Platnumz, all of whom were in Kigali last week for the Giants of Africa festival. Fashion Nigerian Afrobeats star Davido, who headlined the closing concert of the Giants of Africa festival in Kigali last week, is one of the continent's musicians with a strong sense of fashion, which is one of the reasons he signs deals with big international brands. Earlier this year, the singersigned a deal with sportswear company PUMA to produce Nigerian-inspired clothing, including tracksuits, T-shirts, shorts and hats, all in the bright green and white colours of the country's flag. Music and fashion have been inextricably linked for decades, but here in Rwanda the links between the two have always been tenuous. It is only when Rwandan artistes are able to work on their fashion and get personal designers that many luxury brands would feature them in their advertising campaigns and sign deals that would even put their music on the map. Education You cannot underestimate the importance of education in life. In music, it is even more important, despite the facade some people have created about it. Education goes a long way in facilitating the transition from an emerging African artiste to a global superstar. Beyond the art of singing and talent, there is also business, branding, communication, engineering and more. Artistes like Davido may not have a sonorous voice, but education plays a role in his image and global recognition. After dropping out of Oakwood University to pursue music full-time and moving to London, Davido later returned to school and graduated from Babcock University with a degree in music, despite all the fame he had at the time. Apart from a few Rwandan artistes who graduated from the Nyundo School of Arts and Music, such as Danny Nanone and Igor Mabano, many local musicians, including upcoming ones, did not study music, which is one of the reasons hindering the progress of the Rwandan music industry. The likes of Davido and Tiwa Savage, who also holds a degree in Accounting from the University of Kent, should be a lesson to Rwandan musicians that talent alone is not enough to make a career in music. Lifting others After receiving the Artiste of the Year award at the 2018 Headies Awards, Davido reiterated the need for other artistes who are now superstars to help other rising stars. He cited this as an indication of his own growth, as his journey to the top was made possible by the people around him who helped him. To celebrate his 29th birthday in 2021, Davido asked everyone he has supported to send him money and posted his account details on social media. In response, hundreds of Nigerians sent money to his account and by the next day, he had received more than ₦200 million. He announced that he would top it up with ₦50 million and that the money would go to various orphanages across the country. Davido also owns DMW, a Nigerian record label that has featured acts such as Dremo, Yonda, Peruzzi, Idowest from Lagos Island, DJ Ecool, Danagog, B-Red and Deekay among others. Consistency It's hard to keep track of how many songs Diamond Platnmuz has made since he started his music career in 2009. Some of them have become hits, while others you only find out about when you search for his YouTube channel. As an artiste, you only get better with each song, perfecting your craft, making mistakes and learning from them. Make sure you remain unforgettable, even as equally talented artists emerge every day. Live/ Semi-live performances From Diamond Platnumz to Davido and Tiwa Savage, all artistes at the Giants of Africa festival performed live or semi-live, something most Rwandan artists lack. Tanzania's Diamond Platnumz performed fully live while Davido and Tiwa Savage performed semi live at the festival. Apart from a few Rwandan musicians like Bruce Melodie and other gospel singers, live music is still a problem and most musicians, especially rappers, haven't understood the need to perform live at events in Rwanda. The Giants of Africa festival should be a lesson to Rwandan artistes to make live music a priority and work with renowned bands in the country.
