There is a fascinating new voice in the Rwandan gospel music from an up and coming female musician whose music is emerging in a wave of the kind of the worship which is enjoying a golden age Although her name is not widely known yet in the gospel music faithful countrywide, Sharon Gatete is one of the new faces making many sit and listen, if not rise up, spilling words of anointment while captivating listeners with her anointed delivery of God’s word. She's on track to becoming a prominent figure in gospel music as her fame continues to rise. ALSO READ: Top 10 artistes inspiring Rwanda's gospel industry But who is Sharon Gatete? Born in Remera, Kigali, in a Christian family, Sharon Gatete discovered her passion for music at age 9, singing at school events ( Good Foundation school), and church. She decided to pursue music professionally at the end of her lower secondary school education. While raised in a fervent family, she realised her faith was incomplete after surviving a life-threatening accident. This led her to accept Jesus Christ as her saviour and dedicate her life to serving God. “The moment I had an accident, I realised that, after dying, I wouldn’t have gone to heaven. I had a conversation with my father and he convinced me that it’s personal.” “As a kid, he asked me ‘if you die, where do you think you would go? Heaven? or Hell?’ and I said, ‘Heaven. I’m a pastor’s kid, I sing in church’. He told me ‘it's more than that, you should receive Jesus as your personal lord and saviour, it’s not a family thing,” Gatete recalls her turning point to who she is now. “Later, I had a dream which literally showed me that it’s time for me to stop my own and start a Christian journey and grow an active relationship with God and Jesus Christ. That’s been my biggest pride until now. Whatever I passed through, all ended up bringing me to Christ and it’s my calling and purpose of spreading the gospel,” she said. In 2018, Gatete enrolled at the Nyundo School of Music, renowned for nurturing Rwanda's musical talents. A standout moment during her time at school was her participation in a performance during the 2019 Commemoration of Genocide against the Tutsi. She was among very few from the school who were selected to serve as backup vocalists for the likes of Intore Masamba, Knowless Butera, Igor Mabano who were performing a commemoration song known as ‘Batuye Imitima tugutuye’. Gatete’s leadership skills stood out as she directed the backup team, earning recognition at Urugwiro Village. This recognition led her to being entrusted with leading verses in the next performances. As a gesture of appreciation, the President’s Office covered the remainder of her school expenses. In 2021, she graduated from Nyundo with specialisation in music performance, music business, and music composition, ranking number one among girls in her class. It has been a year since Gatete started a solo career. Since 2023, she released singles like 'Kumbuka,' 'Umukunzi,' 'Nzategereza,' and her latest track, 'Inkuru Nziza.' Her success has inspired her to pursue gospel music, likely influenced by her upbringing. ALSO READ: Gospel music shouldn’t be a business—gospel singer Rwibasira Joining the gospel music golden age According to the artist, gospel music has enjoyed a significant evolution. As she grew up, she observed only a few gospel music stars like Aline Gahongayire, Tonzi, Richard Ngendahayo, Simon Kabera dominating the scene and the charts on local stations. However, there's now a new wave of emerging artists who have defied the odds, selling out their concerts. Chryso Ndasingwa is the latest gospel musician to sell out the BK Arena after Israel Mbonyi’s Christmas celebration concerts twice sold out the same venue in 2022 and 2023. Interestingly, live recording tracks are gaining popularity internationally than locally, contributing to gospel music's golden age. I live outside the country [Kenya], and they listen to Rwandan music more than we actually think. They know artists from Rwanda, she said. The genre is now thriving economically, professionally, and spiritually. Its growth can be attributed to God.” ALSO READ: Gospel singer Mbonyi hits a million subscribers on YouTube Gatete says that she does her utmost to release high-quality, worship music from her soul. She dedicates time to God, research, and spiritual growth to convey genuine messages of hope and resilience through her music, especially during challenging times. Additionally, the singer aspires to become a music therapist, believing she can make a significant impact both on and off the stage. She expresses gratitude to the Lord for every success, seeking his wisdom to manage the next phase of her journey. Future projects Gatete does music without management with the help of God, her family and friends. She covers all expenses for her music endeavours and only her family supports her. She has an album already available on digital platforms for distribution. Some songs on the album are pending video recording for distribution. She's now pushing to extend her international appeal, while incorporating various languages like Swahili, English, French and Lingara into her music. Currently in her final year, Gatete is doing Bachelor’s of Arts and Music at Daystar University in Kenya after which she anticipates to fully commit to her music career.
