Budding traditional music singer and dancer, Ibrahim Cyusa, has released a new song, titled- “Umwitero.” The song was released today, October 2. Cyusa told The New Times that he wants everyone who listens to it to think about the meaning of the word Umwitero, a Rwandan traditional outer garment, in their own way. “This is a song I composed with coded implication so that every listener decides what Umwitero means, in their own individual way, just like you would listen to songs like “Akanigi”, “Imenagitero”, “Agaca”, and others. “Cyprien Rugamba never explained the meaning of his songs to anyone, and as such, everyone should listen to the song and analyze message in it.” Rugamba is a legendary Rwandan singer and composer, who played a big role in fostering unity and was against the discriminatory behavior of the past genocidal regime, among other things. “Umwitero” is not Cyusa’s first song, as he has composed and produced four other songs – including two videos – in the recent past. In February, Cyusa and his Inkera traditional dance troupe released their first traditional single “Umutako”, as a Valentines Day gift for fans. In April, Cyusa released a video for his song, “Mbwire Nde?,” for the commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, and “Ndi Umunyarwanda,” a patriotism collaboration with U.S-based singer, who goes by his stage name Tchatching Icyusa CyIngenzi. The 30-year-old is the son of Pierre Rutare, a victim of the 1994 Genocide. Cyusa’s father, also believed to have been a dedicated basketball fan, was an architect, who designed and set up the first model of the roundabout in Kigali city centre. Cyusa has also produced to other songs like; “Rwanda Nkunda,” on the country’s good leadership and “Migabo,” a dedication to President Paul Kagame. The artiste said he spent nearly two months composing his latest song. He said: “I composed it after noticing how quickly the singers in my group, after a performance, take off their outer garments [imyitero] in a rushed and unfitting manner yet we would need them the next day. Every now and then, I would be angry with them. Then I decided to compose a song out of it all.” In his formative years, Cyusa was a dancer before he started singing. Cyusa often performed alone at weddings and, surprisingly, pleased many. When he turned 20, in 2009, he joined the Inyamibwa Cultural Troupe, one of those cultural troupes intent on preserving the country’s unique dancing tradition. editor@newtimesrwanda.com
