If you have been watching Rwandan music videos lately then you have noticed the words ‘directed by Gad’ a lot on your screens. He is one of the game changers in the music video making industry in Rwanda today with a pool of hit songs directed by him that never cease to wow music fans and artistes as well. Real name Gad Nshimiyimana, he was born and raised in Rusizi district but never did he ever think that he would be among the best Rwanda’s video directors today. After completing his high school in Nyamagabe, he went to University in Huye doing Computer Science and was later on admitted to KIST in Kigali and graduated in 2019. “I started off working at a stationery office while I was a student in Huye that also used to film wedding videos and began working in different weddings mostly as a photographer before I decided to do videography. Day by day, I learnt from work and watched YouTube tutorials to improve myself,” he said. After working in weddings for a year he then decided to dive into video directing just like other directors like Meddy Saleh and Mavin who are big names. He searched for gigs in different organisations but all in vain until he finally got a job at Afrifame, a creative agency that offers photography and videography services. Working at Afrifame is when ideas of becoming a music video director started popping up that he thought of shifting from wedding videos to music videos. Journey to video directing He tried a couple times to make music videos for different artistes to see if he could make it but the journey was not as smooth as he thought. After making three songs without good results back, he then decided to go back to making videos for events but the hunger of making music videos did not die. He decided to approach Clement Ishimwe, producer and founder of Kina Music in hopes of working with him and his artistes. “I showed Clement some of the videos I made and fortunately he saw potential in me and then asked me to work on ‘Imyaka Itatu’ remix by Nel Ngabo. Even though the video was low key and didn’t do much for me, I was surprised when he called me months after and asked me to direct one of the big songs titled ‘Mutuale’. This song was so huge that I doubted my potential and what it was that I would do. I had only one day of writing the script and sending it to Clement so I spent so many hours thinking out of the box to give the best music video. Both Clement and Bruce Melodie loved the outcome and that song gave me back hope and proved my unique creativity and talent.” In November 2021, Gad’s talent finally came to light after so many trials, hustles and fears, when he directed Nel Ngabo’s ‘Mutuale’ ft Bruce Melodie music video as many got to discover his skills. After directing Bruce Melodie’s ‘Akinyuma’ he confirmed that he had reached a great step and no longer had to go around knocking on each door for an opportunity. Asked what advice he could give to young rising video directors in the game, Gad said that without discipline however much you are talented you would not be successful. “If they are committed and love what they do there is no doubt that they will finally make it. I am not going to say that the journey to success will be smooth and paved but along the way there are many challenges but they make you grow”. Gad has a creative way of making videos that makes you be in the moment just like he did in many videos directed by him such as ‘Good Luck’ by Ariel Wayz, ‘Akinyuma’ by Bruce Melody, ‘Tobora’ by Knowless, ‘Terimometa’ by DJ Phil Peter, ‘Suwejo’ by Yago, ‘Energy’ by Igor Mabano and ‘Jaja’ by Juno Kizigenza ft Kivumbi among others. Way forward My dream has always been making films since I was a kid and I believe it is the right time to engage in it. I am currently busy producing my own films that I want to have aired on Canal Plus or other platforms. Almost all videos that I have directed are made in a way of telling stories which requires a lot of acting for both the vixens and artistes as well. This year I will release some films as well as music videos. My target in film making includes festivals, Netflix and Canal Plus as a strong local platform that we have in Rwanda.
