Rwanda’s music industry is among the sectors experiencing a huge boost in the country, with different opportunities that are attracting refined investors to put hundreds of millions in the sector. Many have turned multimillionaires and level up financially through investing in either themselves or in talents in the music industry. Today, we detail the big four investors driving the Rwandan music industry. Clement Ishimwe With over 15 years’ experience in the music industry, Clement Ishimwe has invested hundreds of millions in the industry and earned more in returns by raising dozens of megastars in the music industry of Rwanda. Ishimwe is the founder and boss at KINA Music, arguably the biggest and most influential record label in Rwanda today, which managed most of the artistes that rose to fame in the late and mid 2000’s. The biggest of these names that passed through KINA Music are Knowless Butera, Tom Close, Christopher, and the Dream Boys among others. By investing in different artistes, Ishimwe has earned a spot among the richest Rwandan musicians who own multi-million properties in the country. His mansion located in Nyamata, is worth over 300 million Rwandan francs ($300, 000). He’s currently signing young artistes like Nel Ngabo and Igor Mabano, all who are now at the top of the game. Coach Gael He might be new in the game, but Couch Gael has already invested hundreds of millions in the industry and is making profits out of it. His latest big move is renting the rooftop of CHIC building to make it an entertainment hub that aims to boost Rwanda’s creative sector. The construction works of the hub dubbed ‘Blue Sky Park Arena’ will reportedly cost over $700, 000 (over seven hundred million Rwandan francs). Coach Gael is also the brains behind 1:55AM entertainment label which Rwanda’s megastar Bruce Melodie is signed to. He recently signed Element, one of the biggest producers in Rwanda, to the label, and paid him 15 million Rwandan francs for the transfer. Coach Gael also fully sponsored The Ben’s collabo with Tanzanian star Diamond Platnumz which cost him over $70, 000. He is currently the best investor in Rwanda’s music industry who is ejecting millions in the sector, a move attracting so much attention to his name. Joseph Mushyoma (Boubou) You cannot talk about the rise of the Rwandan music industry without mentioning Primus Guma Guma Superstar competition which released billions of Rwandan francs to empower Rwandan artistes as well as uplift the whole industry. The competition was organised by Joseph Mushyoma, alias Boubou, in partnership with Bralirwa's Primus lager. It is the best thing that ever happened to Rwanda’s music industry. The music competition pits Rwanda’s top music stars against each other for a grand prize of about Rwf24 million and other benefits. Previous PGGSS winners are Tom Close (2011), King James (2012), Riderman (2013), Jay Polly (2014), Butera Knowless (2015) Urban Boys (2016) and Bruce Melodie (2017). Mushyoma is also the brains behind East African Promoters, one of the leading event management companies in Rwanda. Alex Muyoboke Alex Muyoboke for years has scouted and nurtured music talents in the Rwandan music industry. Most of the artistes he has handled as a manager, he picked them from scratch and managed to sell them to the public. He has managed the likes of Tom Close, Dream Boys, Urban Boys, Kid Gaju, Social Mula, DJ Pius- some of them on a part-time basis but most have managed to become stars and participants in the lucrative Primus Guma Guma Super Star competition. His latest big loss is parting ways with Rwanda’s finest duo Charly and Nina, the most successful singing duo the country ever had. Muyoboke is currently managing director of multimedia company dubbed Ishusho Ltd. The company has a recording studio, video production, and deals with live video recording and live concerts among others. Under his Decent Entertainment Rwanda Company, Muyoboke is looking forward to managing young talents and turning them into successful acts.
