Ally Soudy Uwizeye is a musician with the group Testament, presenter with Radio Salus 101.9fm and a Model. Bryan Kimenyi of the Sunday Times met with him and he narrated his life story and music career. Beginning your music career in a group and going solo in the later stage of your career is not an easy feat. But trust, the soft spoken Ally Soudy to do it in an instant and make an impression on the local scene. Born in Kigali on November 11, 1983, Ally Soudy’s music career kicked off in 2005 with the group Testament. Their first stage performance was in 2007, during the Miss Campus (NUR) beauty pageant. ‘When we left the stage, we left a mark behind. Everyone was on their feet throughout the performance. That’s the time that made me believe that I would make it in music and the entertainment industry’ he says. As a kid, Ally Soudy listened to radio and read magazines about music and other showbiz. ‘I liked listening to music on my big brothers’ player when I was young. I played every music cassette they bought every other time until I got fed up of the cassette, then I would for the next one they’d buy’ he recalls. Those child hood memories aside, American hip-hop star Kanye West and Jua Kali of Kenya were a major inspiration in his later years when he made the decision of taking his dreams to professional heights. ‘I like Kanye because of his music style and fashion and I try to do whatever I do just like him. Jua kali’s easy flow is another inspiration’ Since he went solo, he has six songs attributed to him, but three of those are collaborations with musicians such as Maurix and Dizzle X of the Simple Family. Ally Soudy also recorded two songs with Spainish singer Amanya. The songs are 25 years and Why “Kuki.” The later is his best track because ‘it was a dedication to our 25th birthdays’ Apart from music, Ally Soudy presents Salus Relax and Tukabyine on Radio Salus 97.0fm and 101.9fm. ‘I’m pleased to be a presenter of Rwanda’s first showbiz programs and one of the best entertainment programs.’ The fourth year student of International Economics at the National university of Rwanda (NUR) is also determined to make it in modeling. The 26 year devout Moslem is a fan of Rwandan and East African music. In Rwanda he is an admirer of Rafiki of the “COGA” style fame and musicians like B-en, Tom Close, Abakimaze Group and Uwizeye Theo. What pleases Ally Soudy is the fact that he made the first Rock song in Kinyarwanda. He is also happy to see that Rwandese musicians have a following, unlike the past when foreign musicians were put before musicians from the region yet ‘they are not any better’ His other achievement was when he interviewed international musicians like, Kofi Olomide, Sean Paul, Shaggy and Bebe Cool during last December’s festivities. But his life has not been such a happy one. During the 1994 Genocide against Tustis, he lost his mother and some members of his family. His father had died earlier. After the 1994 Genocide against Tutsis, his Aunt took care of him, but he was unfortunate to lose her in 2006. ‘I know I am a big enough to take care of myself but I wish they’d be here, and share the good moments with me’ he sadly says. He advises fellow musicians to give quality time to their work, such that they produce music with high quality, adding that, ‘people will judge you basing on the work you have presented to them, not what you are’ Ends
