AMOS NDIKUMANA is an artist and entrepreneur who has mastered the tempo and melody of Burundian Cultural drums. The 28-year-old shared that Jazz melodists of high caliber like James Brown, Bon Jazz and Old school musicians such as Steve Wonder inspired him to join the world of music, eventually entertaining guests at plush bars and restaurants like Rostys at Remera and Kimironko, before the pandemic struck. As he narrates, “I was born in Bujumbura and as a young man coming of age; I liked to play Ingoma za Burundi.” This, he said, paid for every nitty-gritty including affording his own university tuition before he graduated with a Bachelors in Marketing Management. The youngster came to Rwanda in 2015 when there were purges and insecurity in his homeland of Burundi, but despite the odds, he has managed to rebuild himself and carry on with his true calling, which is music through his band called the Chore Jazz Band. “I was accustomed to church when I was young, I sang in the church choir and this instilled a love for music at a tender age,” he says. Just like they say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, Ndikumana has other siblings who sing -like his sister who is a musician. Together with his band, they have released several songs such as ‘Kuki Wagiye” which narrates an ordeal where a young man seduced a girl and left her speechless when he abandoned her. ‘I want to see music given its proper value because all musicians who practiced the art back in the day could sustain a living solely through music,” he said. Music paying off Through music, Ndikumana said he has been able to acquire a sound system which he uses to entertain guests at marriage ceremonies. In addition to this, the musician recently opened up a wine shop in Gaculiro- Kigali, Akaruvusha village where he resides. “I opened up a wine shop where I hope to meet high-end clientele from Gaculiro and Kibagabaga with my taste for exotic wines like Povetto,” he noted.
