Suzanne Nyiranyamibwa, a Rwandan singer of Liberation and Kwibuka songs, died on Friday, October 16, reportedly due to an illness. She was 83.

Nyiranyamibwa was known for songs including Ese mbaze nde?, Ndavunyisha, Nkumbuye iwacu, Nimuberwe bakobwa, Ituze, Nyumva Mana and Inkera y’abahizi, among others.

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One of her best-known songs, Ese Mbaze Nde? (Who Can I Ask?), was composed in early 1996, about a year and a half after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. The song reflects on the experiences of survivors who had lost their relatives and the challenges they faced upon returning to a country devastated by the Genocide.

Nyiranyamibwa left Rwanda in 1973, fleeing persecution and violence against the Tutsi. She initially lived in DR Congo before moving to Belgium, where she became involved in cultural activities among Rwandans in exile.

She was among the founders of Itorero Isamaza, a cultural troupe established in Belgium approximately 35 years ago. The group initially brought together Rwandan women (young and old) through traditional dance and cultural performances. It also helped mobilise support for the Rwandan Patriotic Army during the liberation struggle.

After more than four decades abroad, Nyiranyamibwa returned to settle in Rwanda in December 2016.

She has performed at various events, including Kwibuka.