Rwandan artiste Cedric Ngamije, known by his stage name Shitto Cedro, is one of the contributors to The World Album, an International Artists Project—a newly released compilation featuring one artist from each of 200 countries worldwide. ALSO READ: Rising gospel singer Cedro shares testimony in debut song The album, which was released on August 1, features songs in 93 languages across 121 genres, with each artist contributing one original track. The International Artists Project was created by California-based producer Brandon Beckwith. Over 14 months, Beckwith and his team combined scouting in more than 30 countries with online submissions and outreach to emerging artists. The goal was to assemble an album that showcases the world’s musical and cultural diversity while ensuring artists retain full ownership of their work. Shitto Cedro, 23, learned about the opportunity through a social media post by fellow Rwandan artiste Yago, who is currently based in Uganda. Motivated by the global scope of the project, Cedro reached out to Beckwith directly, submitted his track, and was confirmed for the project after about a month of communication. “The song I submitted, titled ‘No More Lies,’ had already been released prior to the project. “It’s a personal reflection on moving forward from a past relationship, finding growth, and discovering love that’s more genuine and fulfilling,” Cedro noted. Although the project does not provide upfront payment, the singer looks at it as a valuable opportunity, saying: “It’s giving me visibility. I am connecting with people I wouldn’t have reached otherwise. It’s also a chance to represent Rwanda’s creativity on a global platform.” The International Artists Project allows participants to submit new or previously released songs, with the aim of making participation accessible to artists at different stages of their careers. Artists retain full ownership and royalties, and are encouraged to donate a portion of their earnings toward philanthropic causes in their communities or elsewhere in the world, he explained. The World Album follows two previous releases in the series: Part 1, which launched in June 2023 with artists from three countries as a pilot, and Part 2, released in November 2024, featuring artists from 157 countries. With the August release, the project reaches its full vision, uniting artists from every UN-recognized nation and several territories. Artists on the album come from a wide range of backgrounds and styles, including Izzy (Netherlands), LVLS (Armenia), Oscar Flores & 300Peso (USA), Demi Jessie (Poland), KOVI (Spain), Ali Özdemir (Türkiye), Kali G (Antigua & Barbuda), Awzy E (Canada), Lucille Barbato (Argentina), Nat James (UK), Elamar / Amethy (Israel), Lore Hilda (France), and Raggadon Bonezklan (Jamaica), among others. “The artists have interacted through private social channels, and in some cases, even met in person to build relationships beyond the screen. The album is intended to be submitted for Grammy consideration and Guinness World Records, including recognition as the first music project to include artists from every country,” Cedro said. “This experience is a new chapter in my musical journey. While I have been part of other projects before, this is my first time being involved in something with such global reach. Now that The World Album is live on all main platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and YouTube Music, I hope it opens up more opportunities, both in terms of creativity and career growth,” he stated.
