In a world where music transcends boundaries, Marie-France Munyampundu Gusenga stands tall as a true artist of versatility. At just 23 years old, she has not only conquered the hearts of music enthusiasts but also won the prestigious ‘I’m the future 2018’ award, solidifying her position as a rising star. Born and raised in Nyanza District, Marie-France known by her stage name France Mpundu, discovered her music talent a while back. She honed her skills by frequently singing in her church choir alongside her supportive parents. ALSO READ: Singer France overcomes management shadow with music comeback In 2017, Singer France’s journey to fame started when she joined the ‘I’m the future’ competition, which was organised by David Tuyishime alias ‘David Pro’. Although the competition only took place once and was no more, she managed to win the award in 2018 after a tough competition against participants like a renowned singer Rita Ange Kagaju, Mubogora and Lionel Mugisha who scooped the second place. After winning the competition, the singer achieved a significant milestone by signing with ‘Future Record’, the same label that organised the competition. She expressed that the platform served as a crucial bridge in her musical journey, playing a pivotal role in her career development. “During my time under the recording house, I was able to release my debut songs ‘Sinabirota’, ‘Bitwayiki’ and ‘Gake’. Among these, 'Gake' emerged as a standout hit that propelled my fame. However, I breached the contract in a span of two years, prompting my transition to becoming an independent artist,” she said. Equally, Singer France is a versatile artiste who can effortlessly create music across various genres, ranging from R&B and Pop to Afro and Kompa. Even after terminating her contract, she remained determined and did not give up on her passion. Notable songs like ‘Selfish love’ and ‘Darling’ which includes a compelling collaboration with the late Yvan Buravan, showcase her diverse musical talents. ALSO READ: Meet Chartine Imfurikeye, a rising star in Rwanda's afro pop scene Singer France shares that her childhood dreams were inspired by local talents like Knowless Butera, The Ben, Meddy and Iconic Miss Jojo as well as international artistes like Beyonce Knowless, Chris Brown and Rihanna. She also looked up to Tiwa Savage from Nigeria. Regarding challenges, she emphasizes that whether an artist is managed or not, the struggles are quite similar. What matters is not letting these challenges defeat you; quitting is the real setback. After working independently for a span of two years, the singer has now transitioned to having another label manage her career. This change signifies a new chapter and fresh direction in her music journey. “Under my new management at HUHA Records, I have some exciting plans to elevate my music. Being signed alongside the talented Juno Kizigenza is an incredible opportunity and I have learned a lot from the team,” she said. “Since joining, I have already released a new song ‘Umutima’ and I am thrilled to share that a new album is around the corner,” she added. France attended St. Joseph Primary for her primary education, College Christ-Roi for Ordinary level and continued with Advanced level at Notre Dame in Karubanda.
