If you are a social media enthusiast, you have come across Valentine Nyiransengiyumva’s video clip, ‘Dore Imbogo, Dore Imvubu, Dore Impala’ making rounds. The creativity, mondegreen, her conversations and expression as she speaks has made her a celebrity the last couple of days. Her honesty and sense of humor during interviews is what has won the hearts of many. Born and raised in Nyamasheke District, the 24-year-old and last child in the family of three kids packed light to the city, aimed at promoting her talent. “I had a job which I worked for only two months, since something kept pushing me to follow my passion, I really wanted to sing. I used to sing along with my friends back in the village when we went to dig,” she narrated. She went to the studio with a little cash she had saved from her job and recorded her first song. She was inspired to compose “Kabeho Ngoma” a song dedicated to the president for good governance. The next move was to approach a prominent relative, who seemed to have made it in Kigali. As soon as she received the contact, she texted, called, but the relative didn’t respond. She was very frustrated nonetheless, never gave up on her dream. After a few days, she headed in the city, along with “Kabeho Ngoma” on the Compact Disk (CD) , hoping to present the song to the another rich relative in the city, after she had first requested to serve as a house helper from the family, and later ask for talent support. She got to the city and immediately went to her cousins’ place in Kabeza, as she waited to meet her rich relative. Unfortunately, she wasn’t able to meet the relative on the day she had planned. On her way back to the cousin’s place, she met an elderly man who introduced her to Tito Rutaremara, Chairperson of Rwanda Elders Advisory Forum. “As I waited for the bus, I asked a man who was right next to me, if I was standing at the right bus park of the destination I was heading to. Coincidentally, we headed the same direction and he was like; “I’m Rutaremara’s neighbour, a kind man interested in helping young people with talents, especially from rural areas, I can connect you with him” The stranger took her to Rutaremara’s home, where she found other young people. “The following day I called him, introduced myself and told him about my passion and he connected me with other promoters of young talents” she says. As she waited for the promoter’s help, the artist never stopped seeking for other options, and also praying for her dream career. She had tried her chances on different radio stations, asking if they could play her song, but they always sent her away, even after doing all she was asked to do. One of her other relatives working on radio asked if she could try to share the song on WhatsApp. She asked a friend to help, they sent the song and the presenter pretended to like it and promised to play it. The promise ended there, he never played it. She spent about a month trying to expose her talent but failed, until recently when she met a vlogger, and they had an interview that brought her to fame. She has a few songs composed and her goal is to raise her art and talent to the highest standards. She is inspired by Bruce melodie, King James and Priscilla in music.
