Like other forms of art, photography plays a big part in the creative industry because its power to tell stories and create conversations. With help from different players in the profession, The New Times came up with ten most celebrated photographers, in no particular order, who have dedicated their passion in not only creating memories for years to come but also tell stories through their lenses: Plaisir Muzogeye Muzogeye’s love for photography can be traced from childhood when he landed on a small camera and began taking pictures. Today, every picture he posts on social media carries so many likes by his followers who fell in love with his work. Besides being the chief executive of Plaisir Pictures, Muzogeye is a photojournalist at Kigali Today that exhibits creativity and professionalism in his craft. His works have been admired by many and this made him wanted at different big events like Miss Rwanda, local and international conferences, Rwanda Day and Tour du Rwanda during which he took a shot that earned him the photographer of the year award at the 2018 Development Journalism Awards. Muzogeye’s passion was also passed on to his wife who set up Ikibondo Studio, a photography studio that specialises in capturing childhood memories, that is, newborn, pregnancy, family, baptism, and birthday photography. Constantin Ashimwe Popularly known as Shane Costt, Ashimwe has over the past few years established himself among the most sought-after photographers thanks to a reputation he built around the images he takes and portraits he takes. A photographer at Afrifame Pictures, Ashimwe’s main clients are weddings, fashion events, corporate events but also does portraits. Ashimwe is always fascinated by the natural beauty and human progress and his shots are admired by many. Cyril Ndegeya As a photojournalist, Cyril Ndegeya approach is in identifying the complexity of a matter and then deciding which angle is the most relevant to work on. For his personal projects, he is mainly concerned with road safety, urbanism, cultural activities and tourism questions. His experience attracted the attention of many international media agencies which have been using his works in their publications. Luqman Mahoro Those who closely followed Mahoro’s rise in photography had no doubt that he would have a successful career. His coverage for different editions of Miss Rwanda, in addition to other entertainment events, ranked him among the best until he decided to start his own company in photography, Focus Icon. Mahoro’s photography is inspired by nature, beauty, and imagination, which has earned him the trust of his clients, mostly corporate companies. Promesse Kamanda The fact that photography remains a male-dominated profession makes this list also dominated by men. But Promesse Kamanda’s resilience for her craft has earned her a seat at the table. Her vision for a shot and her confidence to always challenge men in the profession are what have kept her firm in the game. Today, she is a contracted photographer of Arthur Nation, an events company and has been the main photographer for big events in Kigali such as Transform Africa, Kigali Jazz Junction concerts, Seka Live, Kwita Izina Concert, Seka Festival, Kassav’ Live, and the DBSA summit in Mozambique. A picture she took of American singer Ne-Yo while performing at the 2019 Kwita Izina Concert confirmed a good photographer she is. Keeping a close relationship with celebrities has also made Kamanda a star in her field. She’s now temporarily Bruce Melodie’s exclusive photographer. Moses Niyonzima Very few would be surprised to see him on this list. Niyonzima built a name for himself earlier when he was made photographer at showbiz news website Inyarwanda.com, where he captured every major entertainment event, and his pictures partly attracted readers to the website. His creativity and eye for taking the right shot at the right time and at the right place caught the eye of his current employers at IGIHE. Niyonzima is reserved in nature, but the pictures he captures at major conferences and concerts speak for him. Franckax Frank Axel Nyabagabo ventured into photography, professionally, as a teenager who had just completed high school. Today, his photoshoot sessions have kept him one of the busiest photographers in the field. The majority of pictures available on his social media accounts, especially on Instagram, have made him a famous photographer. Sabin Abayo To make it on the list, Sabin Abayo was recommended by those who have known him in the photography field and those who worked with him for years. Abayo has contributed a big part in building the reputation that ‘Afrifame Pictures’ now. He remains a people’s favorite for photoshoots and event photography. Chris Schwagga Schwagga is one of the best photo storytellers Rwanda has in its ranks. Born in Burundi, raised in the Congo and now based in Kigali, Rwanda, Chris Schwagga’s photography is mainly inspired by travel and music, as well as elements of the cultures of the countries he moves between. The beauty and meaning behind Schwagga’s pictures can hardly be discovered. Only those who attend his series of photo exhibitions that he holds on a regular basis can best get his work right. Vestine Kalisa Like Kamanda, Kalisa has been defying odds, for a long time, to establish herself among the best photographers in town. A shareholder with Navity In Black (NIB), a Kigali-based photo studio, Kalisa’s creativity diversifies her from celebrities to ordinary people. She has been to glamorous events in the capital Kigali and beyond, ranging from beauty pageants, mainly Miss Rwanda, various conferences, several fashion shows and wedding events.
