The success of modern artistes is not only seen through fame, but also by the awards they scoop, as well as the number of albums they are able to release. Most of the albums that had been planned for last year were disrupted by the pandemic and therefore postponed. As the Ministry of Health works around the clock to put an end to the pandemic we hope to see more Covid-19 restrictions lifted, including live concerts which were suspended since Mid-March last year. We bring you a list of artistes who are planning to launch their albums this year. Platini Nemeye Singer Platini Nemeye, commonly known as Platini P, is planning on releasing his debut album that comprises of his own singles since he started a solo career after his long-time music partner Claude Mujyanama, commonly known as TMC, left the country in February to continue his studies in the United States. The singer made the revelation on Saturday, January 23, when he released his brand new single ‘Helena’. “This could be my busiest year as I am working on my first album as a solo artiste. ‘Helena’ is my latest release and I am supposed to word to have the album done this year,” Platini said in a telephone interview. ‘Helena’ becomes his sixth release after ‘Veronika’, ‘Atansiyo’, ‘Pase’, a collaboration with Rafiki as well as ‘Nta Birenze’ and ‘Fata Amano’, the two other collaborations with Knowless and former Urban Boys’ Safi Madiba, respectively. Israel Mbonyi The gospel outfit proved to be one of the Rwandan gospel outstanding artists when he scooped Isango Na Muzika’s best gospel artist title in 2020. At the end of the year, he told the media, that his plans to launch his latest album ‘Urwandiko’ were halted by the Coronavirus pandemic, but hoped to release it in 2021 Clarisse Karasira The Newly engaged Karasira had planned to launch of her first album late December last year, but it was cancelled due to the upsurge in Covid-19 cases. The album dubbed, ‘Inganzo y’Imitima’, is a compilation of 18 culture-inspired songs, which have gone on to become popular among Rwandan music enthusiasts. In her recent interview with The New Times, she said that the launch will take place this year, once the pandemic’s restrictions are lifted. She also noted that her album was on high demand and is therefore using this period to work on her second album. Jules Sentore Traditional singer Jules Sentore last year shelved his plans to launch his planned album “Inganzo yaratabaye” that was slated for July 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He resorted to compiling songs for another album with a plan to launch two for a concert that was planned for December last. With the situation hopefully normalizing this year, we hope to see two albums launched in one mega-concert once the virus has been mitigated. Gaby Kamanzi Commenting on her recently released single, “Emmanuel”, Gaby Irene Kamanzi, announced that the song is included in her second album that she plans to launch in 2021. The album titled ‘Emmanuel’ will also include some of her already released songs like, “Arankunda”, “Nzahora Nshima”, “Ewe Mungu”, “Mu Mutima”, “Hejuru”, among others. Ruti Joel Joel Rumata, aka Ruti Joel, is one of the few ‘Gakondo’ artistes, who continued to create during the stay home period eventually releasing “Rumuri rw’itabaza”, a song appealing to God to intervene for the world. The Gakondo star, renowned for releasing his songs with the traditional rhythm, is contemplating on launching his debut album made up of 10 singles. Like the rest, he was disrupted by the novel Coronavirus which affected his calendar in 2020. Christopher Muneza Christopher is also among the artists working on their new albums that were set to be launched in February 2021, but with a high possibility to be pushed later. Knowless Butera 2021 is also set to see Kina Music member, launching her “Imtwarane” album as she looks to celebrate 10 years of her musical journey littered with many successes, including the Primus Guma Guma Superstar Season 5 winner title in 2015. She intends to launch two albums at the same time to make her decade long music journey much more colourful and worth the effort. Simpo Savior The Reggae star, Alain Jean Sauveur Ndizihiwe, has become one of the Rwanda reggae artists with music that is making hits. After getting good feedback, Ndizihiwe said that he is working on his second album that he is releasing this year, after signing up with France-based management. Alyn Sano Shengero Alyn Sano is among the female artists whose hard work paid off in 2020, that she even scooped Isango Na Muzika’s best female artist. She is now busy working on her second album, made up of 20 songs and hopefully this year will see the launch of her album.
