On the cover: François - Xavier Ngarambe

Veteran singer, François-Xavier Ngarambe never ceases to steal the show. At 48, the ‘Umwana ni umutware’ singer has quit teaching to concentrate on his music career. Well, as expected, Ngarambe, famous for his 1980s stage name, Frank Bedidjo, is set to rock once again with his prolific musical skills. However, although Ngarambe has more than 50 singles on his belt, he has never released a single CD, or tape. His first album ‘Umwana ni umutware’ is expected to out in February, 2011.The 10-track album was produced by sound engineer Nicolas Mucyo, in collaboration with several local artistes, including Karim, Killy, Richard, Zawadi, Emmanuel, Shanel, Eugénie and Lauren. Some of the singles on the album include, ‘Tenda Mema’, ‘Umwana ni umutware’ (a remix) featuring his Hip-hop son, ‘Ingabire’ also featuring his wife Yvonne- Solange Kagoyire and ‘Umusozi w’Amahoro.’ His music is educative and advocates for peace, unity, reconciliation, for children’s rights, family values, life and love. Early life and discovery François- Xavier Ngarambe (born in North Kivu, DR Congo, on December 3, 1962) is a Rwandan singer, songwriter and teacher. He is the only child of the late Charles Ngarambe and Stephanie Mukandoli, who were killed in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Ngarambe’s family moved to Rwanda in the late 60s, when he was still a baby. He attended Primary school, partly in the country (4 years), before he went back to DR Congo in 1972 and there, he completed Secondary edcuation. He pursued a degree in History from Université du Burundi 1980-1985. He worked as a teacher at ETS Kamenge, and also volunteered at Collège St. Albert, in Bujumbura.Ngarambe returned to Rwanda in 1986. He married Kagoyire on January 1, 1994. However, during the Genocide, the newly married couple fled the country to Kenya and later Belgium and returned in December, 1995. The couple has five children and two adopted children. garambe was a teacher at IFAK from 1986 up to his retirement last year, to concentrate on music. Music Music had a large influence on his childhood. Ngarambe says that he always loved music and even before he could read, he was singing in church during Sunday mass. “I can’t explain when I started singing, because music is an inborn talent,” Ngarambe says, “When I was a kid, I liked singing and used to compose my own melodies, especially from Church songs.”He released his first single at the age of 12, a lamentation to God; why he was born a lonely child, without any sibling. After Secondary school, Ngarambe began composing songs in both Swahili and French and started to perform in families, where his talent was appreciated. When he moved from Congo to Burundi, his musical world became wider. “When I was in Congo, the only type of music we used to listen to was Congolese, but when I moved to Burundi, I started listening to different musical genres, including Jazz, Rock, Blues, Reggae and Latino-American, which widened my music style,” Ngarambe says. He adds that his style of singing, and writing songs expanded from local to international genres, but was greatly inspired by Rwandan traditional music.It was at the Université du Burundi, where Ngarambe met Emmanuel Katabandama, a.k.a Emma Solo (killed in the 1994 Genocide), who taught him how to play the guitar.With friends, Ngarambe formed a band called Emma Solo and the Lights, but later the name was changed to The New Lights.“In this group, I released a sole Swahili single called ‘Tenda Mema’,’ Ngarambe says, “and with Emma Solo we released a song entitled ‘Twumvikane’, which is still a hit song on Burundian airwaves.” Ngarambe, then, fell in love with the Rwandan culture, and started composing songs in Kinyawanda. He discovered Urunana, a children’s troupe of Rwandan dance, which was based in Burundi and the troupe partnered with New Lights, by performing together. In 1987, after returning to Rwanda, Ngarambe’s ‘Umwana ni umutware’ was selected (Best Song) in “Découvertes 87”, a competition organized by Radio France Internationale. Even though, he didn’t make it to the international level, he became famous. Ngarambe joined ‘Isibo y’Ishakwe’, which was a group of young Rwandan artistes.“I joined the band because it had the ambition of doing research in traditional music and to mix it with modern music,” Ngarambe notes. He added “The group was famous for its song ‘Nyaruguru” and it was later made a remix by singer Jean-Paul Samputu, which brought him to fame.”In 1997, he participated in the Peace Songs competition, organized by ‘Centre Martin Luther King’, and his song ‘Hamwe n’abana’ won the best award. Ngarambe was often invited by Unicef, and Migeprof to perform at children’s events, like ‘The Day of African Child.’ The star urges his fellow artistes to be humble and give glory to God for their talent. “Let’s be instruments in His hands for peace and love,” he concludes. Ends