Meet Momo, a new kid on the block

Her voice is shrill and her lyrics can keep you gripped. Maureen Mbabazi aka Momo has stepped on Rwanda’s growing music industry with noticeable gait. She is a hardworking young woman, aggressive and very passionate about music. Her prowess in music has seen her grace stages at several events in the country and according to her, the sky is the limit. his young talented upcoming Rwandan artiste was born in 1991. She is the fifth born in a family of six children. Unfortunately, Mbabazi did not grow up a happy child after both her parents passed on when she was only 8 years. The youngster and her siblings were later adopted by relatives. She attained her primary education at E.R.G Gitarama before joining Kabuga High School for secondary education.Mbabazi’s passion for music developed when she was 12. Enthusiastic to become a music star, she started miming different songs and trying to imitate the way artistes perform on stage.“My deceased father used to like music and dancing. I remember how would call us to dance with him. That somehow inspired me to do what I am doing today,” Mbabazi sadly recalls.Her dream was to become a musician or journalist. “I wanted a job where I can communicate to many people and I thought music or journalism was the way to go,” she says.Mbabazi also did a lot of miming in secondary school, and in 2010 her love for music developed even stronger. She started curtain raising for famed local artistes during concerts. “I started my music journey in 2010 as a backup singer/dancer. I worked with artistes like Kamichi, The Ben and Prince Kid. I would also see other female artistes perform and I felt I could do better.”In 2012, her young sister Christine Dusabe, aka Dchris, who is also an upcoming artiste, connected her to producer Pacento of Narrow Road Records.Pacento was not the final man though, however he advised Mbabazi to ask his boss whether it was okay for him to taste her vocals in his studio.“I was so determined at that time and I definitely did what Pacento had told me, luckily enough the boss was okay with him tasting my voice and that was the beginning of my music career.”“I recorded my first song Narakwiyeguriye and it was well received by the public, I later worked with Ama G Black on my second song called Babimenye and later my hit song Ndamufite,” she narrates.The young artiste says that Ndamufite received massive air play and support from the public which motivated her to even work harder.She recently released a new song called Kuki and has worked with all stars in Terera Iyo and Akadomo. She is also currently working on a new song with singing duo Two 4 Real and Uganda’s Captain Dolla of the Emesse fame.However, not all is rosy for Mbabazi in her music journey. “My big sister is the one supporting us now, but she was not happy when I told her that I wanted to become a musician, she said I was going to get spoilt though she has now started accepting my passion,”Mbabazi says.The singer also decries lack of sponsorship and money to do her videos, poor or no pay at concerts. Despite all that, Mbabazi feels great when her song is played on air or when she is invited to curtain raise at any concert.The upcoming star dreams of making it big both at the regional and international scene. She is currently recording a couple of songs and is also planning to resume school next year.

Leisure

Meet Momo, a new kid on the block