Marchal Ujeku(centre in long jacket) poses with young performers
After several months of silence from local music scene, little known Marchal Ujeku from Nkombo island is back with another brand new style of music.
Ujeku is mostly known for promoting life of the remote Nkombo Island in Rusizi district. But has returned with a new song ‘Ndi iki’ about love and women.
‘Ndi iki’ afro beat song is a collabo with another underground rapper Alto.
The song brings out the current trend of women and sexual abuse especially among young girls at a time most Rwandan musicians undermine the dignity of women in their trending music videos.
“My song intends to educate Rwandan girls to be careful about love issues. To know that their personal dignity is very important and avoid men tricking them with money” Ujeku said.
On November 25, the Rwanda’s icon- Kigali Convention Center (KCC) dome was lit with orange colour to mark the start of 16 days of activism against Gender Based Violence (GBV).
“We are happy for the involvement of our youth in the fight against GBV. We are hopeful will have a generation full of humanity and respect for others” said Minister of Gender Esperance Nyirasafari during the campaign which involved walks to end violence, held across the country.
A manhunt for men who impregnate girls is on countrywide after statistics show that 818 children below 18years (with 63% of them in primary school) were impregnated in ten districts in 2016, and 2333 girls were reported pregnant in the western province this year.
In 2016, Ujeku came in the limelight with his “Saama Style”- a composition Amahavu- of one of Nkombo native dialects- and Swahili. His dancers jump high and wiggle their waists.
His released songs- ‘Bombole bombole’ and ‘Musisemisemi’ rocked Rwanda after his exhibition at the African cultural festival Fespad-Umuganura 2016 event attracting attention to his new music.
Abdul Makanyaga, one of Rwanda’s surviving orchestra music maestros says that Rwandan music has not been able to sell the country due to practices of copying the west.
“There are many young musicians in the industry, such talent is what we have been missing. We can only develop music and sell it if we move from the level of copying- which is for starters,” Makanyaga said.
With two songs already out (with videos), Ujeku says he is planning to release a full album by the end of this year.
