Bizimana Abdul Wahab aka BZB ‘the Brain’ is the CEO and Producer of TFP otherwise known as The Future Production, one of Rwanda’s pioneering recording studios. BZB is a man on a mission. Which is to help breed the next generation of Rwandan musicians. Having been around for sometime now I decided to catch up with him to dig out what he is up to this year. ‘We create music and by extension we create talent in showbiz virtually from scratch’, BZB started off when I caught up with him. I asked him how it all started. ‘It all started way back in 2004.We were the first record label to take a serious shot at localizing hip-hop in Rwanda. The first guy I got was DMS. We did KGL meaning Kigali City and we straight away took it to the radio stations to enable us claim airplay. ‘People were amazed that we could produce such a track. This motivated me to push further. Others soon followed and in came Super Tall, Rama Kelly and Faycal. ‘Faycal and DMS actually made TFP. ‘We produced tracks which have stood the test of time’. That was in 2005. ‘So TPF became both a family and a record label’, he added. ‘We had to convince radio DJs and even night club DJs that we had something new to offer the industry. It was difficult time to get business. But somehow we persisted. We did not make any money.2003-2004 was actually a trial period’. Industry breakthrough ‘My breakthrough came when I started producing for Pappy Joe. ‘Umutima Ukunda’ became an instant hit and thereafter the floodgates opened. That was in mid 2005.’ ‘I became one of the most sought after producers. People started having the belief that I could actually produce something’, he further expounded. ‘So far I have produced numerous albums probably more than eight and very many singles that I lost track of the number. Among the most memorable albums are those I made for Faycal, Rider man, DMS and NPC which is still under works’, he said. To make further inroads TFP did two concerts as a family in 2006.The label also made a group appearance in Fespad 2006. Industry state of affairs according to ‘the Brain’. ‘It’s actually a tough job. It’s a very tight hustle. People in Rwanda love music. But Rwandans cannot just show full love for the party. It’s a new thing. This affects music and showbiz. There cannot be music without artists. So artists don’t get enough support from people. That affects us as we are part of the value chain’, he further explained. ‘To arrest this situation we have to keep on producing music. We can’t just stop. There’s talent in Kigali. We need to tap this talent so that music can eventually sell.’ ‘We should actually get additional support from other stakeholders. Having people buy just ten or so CDs is just not enough. The Government should lend us more support. Copy right laws should be enforced. Otherwise our industry will continue underperforming. Piracy is an issue that needs to be addressed in a more concrete way. People love our music but piracy is the main barrier’, he said. BZB said that artists are getting worked up because they can’t sell music. They only make money through shows. Because Rwandans don’t party hard enough earnings from shows are dismal save for those very big artists. I asked him about the support that comes from the corporates especially the recent gestures by Rwandatel, MTN and Bralirwa. ‘Even if they set aside big budgets, the trickle down to local music was minimal. Artists were being offered something in the region of Rwf.200,000,which is not enough. However this is a sign of good things to come. It’s a two way traffic. After they benefit they have to get back to us. Once they are paid, they run back to us for they have to churn out tracks to keep them in the market. If we produce good tracks, this gives them a chance to be contracted for the major gigs. So the concerts did us good’. 2009 plans ‘We have to take Rwandan music to the next level’, he said. BZB intimated that TFP is planning to host a mega concert sometime during the course of the year. The concert will target some of his hit makers. BZB is also planning to release an album extracted from his previous hits. Produced in Belgium, it will feature Rider Man, MC Mahoni Boni, the DYMZ among others. BZB also plans to undertake a tour of Europe for at least two of his major artists. ‘I have a firm believe that the future is bright. Things are changing for the better’. BZB predicted that upcoming artists will actually shape up the future trends. He believes that the new crop of artists will favourably compete with the known artists. If this is his prediction, only time will tell. Ends
