With both private and public sectors involved in the music industry, rapper Kivumbi King says the industry would grow at a higher pace and offer more returns for artists and investors. Kivumbi said this as he discussed the state of the local creative industry, the appreciation of hip hop genre for different generations in Rwanda, and what the private and public sectors can contribute in the industry, on the week’s episode of The Long Form – a weekly podcast of The New Times. ALSO READ: PODCAST: Rapper Kivumbi on music and life as an artist in Rwanda “The private sector, like the public one, hasn’t seen the music industry as a profitable industry and it’s actually crazy,” Kivumbi said on the podcast, adding that both sectors should take risks and invest in the industry which has as many opportunities as other sectors. “Not a lot of people have a wider information on how the music industry works but it’s a really profitable industry and once we have people investing, a lot will be achieved,” the rapper added. Kivumbi further added that there are structures in the music industry and profit return plans that are set, urging different companies to use that and make the music industry functional. A strong artistes’ organisation is missing About the government’s support to the music industry, Kivumbi believes that there are some efforts being put in the sector but artists also need to join hands and have a strong organisation. ALSO READ: My first album represents the new generation in music industry, says Kivumbi King “We need to come together as artists and have a strong body. The one we have currently is not functional and if it was active, we would address our problems even better,” The public and public sector, Kivumbi said, need to listen to different players in the industry and understand how it works as well as how one can make profit out of it. Music not a waste of time “Music is not a waste of time as many parents like to put it. We have a safe country that actually facilitates all sectors including music.” ALSO READ: Why Rwandan rappers shouldn’t play the beefing game The rapper also noted that music is not something that one is required to do full time, adding that rappers and other musicians shouldn’t use the art of music as a reason to drop out of school. “Everyone deserves to make music but in a safe way,” the rapper noted. About Kivumbi The artist rose to stardom when he released ‘Madam’, his first solo release, and ‘A Sin Called Dreaming’, his debut album. He became a household name in Rwanda after dropping ‘DID’, one of the best albums of 2021 which featured regional artists like Nutty Neithan from Uganda, Kirikou Akili of Burundi, and Bushali of Rwanda, among others.
