As we lay Rama to rest today, I felt the calling to write something about my friend who dedicated a generous amount of his time to writing. He contributed his opinions to many newspapers including this one. While I don’t write articles anymore, it seemed only right to eulogize a writing man in writing. I met Rama around 2006. His brother, Minega, had spoken of him before and expressed how easy it would be for us to connect. When I finally met him, Minega’s prediction would prove to be very accurate. Rama had many dreams. But his greatest dream was one of a successful and transformed Rwanda. When we met, he had just left the comforts of life in Oxford to come home to pursue this dream. He believed he could contribute to Rwanda’s transformation through entrepreneurship and journalism. Shortly after he arrived, he started implementing his big plans by buying a truck and double cabin pick-up. He then started a small construction business that employed a few people. He also started writing articles for local periodicals and newspapers and making guest appearances on various radio stations. At the time, we shared so much, from the idealism of youth and interest in media to friends, family, and acquaintances. During the day we often collaborated on various entrepreneurial and journalistic pursuits. After a day’s work, we spent evenings discussing our business ventures and other topics like culture, history, and art over cold beers. Back then, our group of friends was composed of mostly university students and young graduates. As a result, we were generally broke, so we had to find the most affordable establishments to socialize in. We made up for what we lacked in money with jokes, laughter, and plenty of optimism. For a time, we became an extended family of friends meeting multiple times a week until our careers finally started taking shape. While we did not always agree, Rama always had very interesting and introspective opinions on what was being discussed. He was an educated man, but not only in the academic sense. There is an education you get in school; one you get on the streets, and one passed down from your parents. Rama had all three but the one from his parents stood out the most. You could see it in the humility and passion with which he pursued his daily duties and how he related to his people. It was never just about all the book knowledge he had plenty of but about what it meant to the world and how it contributed to those around him. Because of this diverse education, he felt no challenge, passion, or career was out of his reach. He could be a good writer, a construction entrepreneur, an introspective poet, a pop hit songwriter, an amateur historian and economist, a sports analyst, and an ardent video gamer all in a day’s work. Little known to many, he had contributed to writing some of the biggest songs in the country. He also created and maintained a video game football league in the pre-smartphone era that still runs today. Most importantly Rama was a friend and family man who kept an open door. In a column in The New Times thirteen years ago eulogizing his father, Rama said, “we need to return to our values ... of having an open door, ... a warm free bed, helping each other with school fees, medical bills, and most of all – just spending time together.” Until the day he passed on, twice a week, every week, his closest friends converged at his house to play his game and reconnect. I do not know anyone else who hosts a group of people consistently twice a week for years. Above his friends, Rama loved his parents, siblings, and his extended family. He never missed a family event if he could help it. And being the historian he was, he put so much effort into knowing how he connected with all those around him. I remember him trying to convince me that we were cousins based on some cultural research he had undertaken. It was funny and did not matter to me because we had already become brothers. As we lay him to rest on Friday, I take the most solace in the fact that the transformed Rwanda he dreamed of is taking shape and on the right path to prosperity. Some personal quotes from his Twitter @ramaisibo Rest in Peace my brother This man was a musical genius. He wrote the songs “deja vu” ft @yvanburavan and “on it” ft @BruceMelodie from my album made in kigali. We lost a real one — madebeats (@madebeats_) February 11, 2023 Rama Isibo in his own words: “The highest honour ever paid to my father: ‘Ya’rumuntu ukunda abantu be!’ My goal in life is that someone might say that of me someday” To Rama, son of Isibo-Rutimirwa: Nawe wari umuntu mwiza ukunda abe In loving Memory. https://t.co/YmyrIkncot — Gatete Nyiringabo Ruhumuliza (@gateteviews) February 11, 2023 We fought and won many media battles together. He just lost this against death, which regrettably we could not be of sufficient help. R.I.P. our dear brother Rama Isibo. Inkotanyi Cyane . pic.twitter.com/eYBRdIMCcJ — Ignatius R. Kabagambe (@KabagambeI) February 11, 2023 I mourn together with the family and the media fraternity the loss of a very important and supportive friend in the industry @ramaisibo pic.twitter.com/hpZKedNiEB — Jesse K Maxella (@Radiohost_Rwa) February 11, 2023 A life cut far too short. Until we meet again to discuss politics until the cows come home. Rest in Peace @ramaisibo . Strength to the Isibo clan pic.twitter.com/NRRdo3FFUw — Sanny Ntayombya (@SannyNtayombya) February 11, 2023 Here's to living life as your true, authentic self. Rest In Peace, @ramaisibo . You will be missed — Tayo (@Mr_rugamba) February 11, 2023 Rest In Peace my young brother @ramaisibo Very tragic! pic.twitter.com/giUgcwSd04 — Cedric Babu Ndilima (@CedricNdilima) February 11, 2023 I am so sorry to hear this. Rama was a great guy, we could debate for hours on any issue. So knowledgeable. We will miss him. Rest in Power Rama Isibo. — Great Afrika (@ibiriti) February 11, 2023 It's amazing the speed at which the Western powers pivot. They go to the Genocide memorial and supposedly empathize, then turn on a dime to lecturing. Sometimes at the actual memorial itself. Would they lecture Israel at a Holocaust memorial site? — Rama Isibo (@ramaisibo) August 12, 2022
