Singer and composer, Philemon Rukundo, is arguably one of Rwanda’s many fast-rising talents in the music industry today. Raised in a family of performers, it is easy to see where Rukondo gets his spark. His parents were singers in a choir and his grandfather was a traditional dancer. ALSO READ: Composer of CHAN song dreams of World Cup stage From a young age, Rukundo enjoyed listening to music and learning how to compose it, something he has been doing low-key till he started professionally in 2021. Today, the singer has a list of songs to his name like ‘Ring’, ‘Wow’, ‘Cindy’, ‘Oooh’, ‘Love’(la la), and ‘Listen’, all of which are gaining momentum in the industry because of his unique sound and powerful lyrics. Speaking to The New Times, Rukundo explained his creative process and the inspiration behind his music, saying that he draws inspiration from his own experiences, and uses emotions to create music that resonates with others. “I write about things that are important to me, things that I’m passionate about, and I hope that my music can touch people and inspire them to feel something,” he said. ALSO READ: Sentore on the state of traditional music in Rwanda “I believe in art and I am always inspired by sharing my thoughts through music. I won’t say there is someone in particular who inspired me because whoever is doing great inspires me. “My journey wasn’t easy but the experience is what makes me get better and better. I started playing my guitar and singing on Instagram to see what people thought about my talent, and that’s when I got a lot of great feedback. People told me to start doing music professionally and I’m glad they are still showing love,” he added. With his talent and dedication, there is no doubt Rukundo will continue making waves in the music industry. Keep an eye out for this rising star, and be sure to check out his music on streaming platforms. He appreciates everyone who supports local music, because Rwandan artistes are dreaming big and making it happen.
