The just-concluded Isango na Muzika Awards celebrated outstanding achievements in Rwanda’s music industry in a ceremony held at the Kigali Cultural and Exhibition Village (KCEV) on Sunday, December 21. While the event recognised creatives across multiple categories, the Best Hip Hop Artist of the Year award—won by Kivumbi King—has sparked criticism within the rap community. Several rappers have questioned the criteria used to select Kivumbi over Bruce The 1st, whom many believe was more deserving of the accolade. ALSO READ: IMA 2025: The Ben, Bwiza win Artist of the Year awards — who else stood out? The concerns were raised during a press conference for Icyumba Cya Rap held on December 22, where artists addressed both the controversial outcome and the broader treatment of hip-hop within Rwanda’s music industry. Rapper Kenny K-Shot expressed dissatisfaction with the decision, arguing that it did not accurately reflect activity within the genre throughout the year. “It’s unfair because the winner did not release any hip-hop project in 2025. As rappers, we put out work throughout the year, and that effort should matter when such awards are decided,” he said. Veteran rapper Bull Dogg echoed the sentiment, stressing that the criticism was based on principle rather than personal animosity. “Even Kivumbi himself knows he got an award he doesn’t deserve. This is not about hate; it’s about respecting the culture and the work that was done,” Bull Dogg said. Kivumbi King clinched the Best Hip Hop Artist award ahead of Riderman, Bushali, and Bruce The 1st—artists who either released new music or remained active in the genre throughout the year. Beyond the disputed category, rappers also criticised what they described as long-standing unequal treatment of hip-hop compared to other music genres in Rwanda. “Media coverage for hip-hop is not the same as for other genres. Our achievements are often overlooked unless there is controversy,” Kenny K-Shot added. Responding to the backlash, Alex Kavukire, a programme manager and one of the organisers of the Isango na Muzika Awards, defended the selection process, stating that winners were determined through votes cast by journalists. “The decision is in the hands of journalists who vote for the nominees, and the one with the highest votes is the one who is awarded,” Kavukire told The New Times. He noted that criticism within the music industry is not unusual. “It’s normal for people in the same field, especially in the music industry, to have criticism. It’s not a new thing and it has been around for a while,” he said. Kavukire added that the situation would only be problematic if Kivumbi had no history in hip-hop. “If someone is known for a genre and later gets voted as the best in it, I don’t think there is a problem. It would only be an issue if he had never done hip-hop at all.” The awards ceremony recognised excellence across 11 categories, including Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Producer of the Year, and Video Director of the Year. The Ben and Bwiza won Best Male Artist and Best Female Artist of the Year respectively, while Bruce Melodie’s Colorful Generation took home the Album of the Year award, among other honours.
