“Music is as art as fashion, and fusion of artwork makes better output. Today’s music needs fashion to boost quickly and engage as well as hire a lot of related artists both in fashion designing and creative”, said Kageruka Wilson, the CEO & Founder of Tarama Rwanda Initiative

Mr. Wilson KAGERUKA received an award as the best entrepreneur of 2022, an award given by His Excellence Ambassador Dr. Ron Adam; the ambassador of the state of Israel in Rwanda, on the behalf of Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village.

Fashion and Music Historical Background

Looking back at Rwanda's history, music and fashion have been together. Historically, fashion plays a big role in the development of Rwandan traditional dance and cultural performances.

PHOTO INTERNET: Rwanda Tradition troupe, male dancers  wearing cultural outfits 

During the ceremony at the King’s palace known as Imbwami, when male dancers known as Intore were dancing and performing for the King and Queen used to wear traditional outfits known as Inkindi made out of animals skin or backcloths and Ibikubwe or Ibitako made out of beads. Right hand holding a speaker and another left hand a shield and covering their heads with Umugara made out of fibres. While female dancers and singers used to wear outfits known as Umucyenyero or Umushanana made out of animals' skin or backcloths. 

PHOTO INTERNET: Rwanda Tradition troupe/ Urukerereza, female dancers  wearing cultural outfits made out of backcloths called "Inshabure"

PHOTO INTERNET: Rwanda Tradition troupe/Urukerereza, female dancers  wearing cultural outfits ( umushanana & Umucyenyero & Umwitero)

In the modern world, the role of fashion in Rwanda’s music was recognized during and from the colonial time when Rwandans started to adopt some other African styles and Western and European styles. From the independence of 1962, the Rwanda national troupe known as Urukerereza developed its fashion styles, especially during performances at the President's family and government events. Other local artists dancers and singers like impala orchestral and Amasimbi n’ Amakombe choir and culture troupe founded by Rugamba Cyprien and his wife Daphrose Rugamba also are among others who proved the role of fashion in the development of Rwanda Music

PHOTO INTERNET: Rwanda Tradition troupe is known by the name  Urukerereza, male dancers  wearing cultural outfits holding spears and shields and covering their heads with "Umugara"

PHOTO INTERNET: Rwanda Tradition troupe is known by the name  Urukerereza, female dancers wearing cultural outfits made out of modern fabrics. They are carrying baskets on their heads called " Agaseke"

PHOTO INTERNET: Orchestral Impala wearing fashionable clothes during their performances 

Cyprien und Daphrose Rugamba 1992 in ihrem Garten in Kigali

Fashion and Music Today: What is Tarama Rwanda Initiative and its Role?

15 years ago, there are tangible changes in the music industry because of fashion. However, many local artists continue to struggle by missing their uniqueness and creativity while preparing outfits to use in their video shooting and on their stage during their concerts.

PHOTO INTERNET: Singer and songwriter Mr Mani Martin wearing a traditional outfit called "Umucyenyero"

To tackle this challenge, Tarama Rwanda Initiative in partnership with the Rwanda Cultural Fashion Show (RCFS) organized the discussions with the topic “The role of fashion in the development of Rwandan Music” to show local artists the role of fashion in the music industry and to share the opportunity available in Rwanda to improve their fashion styles.

Mr NKUBA Patient from the Tarama Rwanda community playing, the Rwandan traditional musical instrument called "Inanga"

Tarama Rwanda Initiative is an organization founded by Kageruka Wilsom in August 2020. It aims to cultivate and enrich the pool of talented young individuals in Rwanda and empower them to play an active and impactful role in driving the social, cultural, and economic progress of the nation with a particular focus on the fields of arts, education, and health. Tarama Rwanda Initiative was aspired to organize a webinar about “The role of fashion in the development of Rwandan Music” to put together different stakeholders in the music and fashion industry and discuss various strategies to support each other. That will also reveal the contribution of each part in the development of the other. Kageruka Wilson, CEO& Founder of the Tarama Rwanda Initiative, wants to remind local artists how beautiful it is to wear locally made to promote made in Rwanda.

Some of The members of the Tarama Rwanda Initiative during the workshop  in Rwamagana District

Among the Tarama  Rwanda Initiative members, they are women as the sign of empowering young and upcoming women artists 

Tarama Rwanda Initiative has 25 team members and an entire community of artists, creative designers, and entrepreneurs where more than 400 people are a part of this leading platform. Tarama Rwanda organizes mentorship programs, incubation programs, both local communities and high school Tours countrywide, National arts Competitions, and Music concerts with the purpose of nurturing Rwandan Hidden Talents. “We did a lot, so far 5 mentorship-based events that gathered more than 8000 youths have been organized, 3 Tarama Rwanda Night events and 8 High school Tours have been conducted,” said Mr Kageruka.

The members of the Tarama Rwanda Initiative with their partners including His Excellence Ambassador Dr. Ron Adam; the ambassador of the state of Israel in Rwanda

How far is Tarama Rwanda Initiative?

Since Tarama started, its founder Mr. Wilson KAGERUKA received an award as the best Entrepreneur of 2022, an award given by His Excellence Ambassador Dr. Ron Adam; the ambassador of the state of Israel in Rwanda, this award was given on behalf of the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village. Mr Wilson is happy for what his organization had done so far but he see no collaboration at all “The industry lacks collaboration among the artists in both fields and this will impact the rate of creativity and productivity in Outputs”.

Mr. Wilson KAGERUKA received an award as the best Entrepreneur of 2022, an award given by His Excellence Ambassador Dr. Ron Adam; the ambassador of the state of Israel in Rwanda, on the behalf of Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village.

He believes that collaboration and flexibility to learn from each other and share experiences is the key for musicians and fashion designers to develop their careers. This coming webinar is the opening point to the big projects and sustainable partnerships between musicians and fashioners.

The event of 26^th March 2023 will start at 4pm and it will discuss:

• The success journey of both Rwanda's fashion and music sectors, 
• Effect of Covid-19 on both music and fashion related creative, 
• The impact of quality music videos on the international market, 
• How better music artists can collaborate with fashion designers and dancers to produce high-standard videos and 
• The Visit Rwanda / Made in Rwanda campaigns in artists through music masterpieces. 

Anyone who is willing to participate in the event can visit here to register. Tarama Rwanda together with the Rwanda Cultural Fashion Show together and other partners will make sure that the event went smoothly and will share the key takeaways with everyone.

Read more about What Makes Traditional Dances in Rwanda Unique?

By Florence Niyigena I Content creator: Rwanda Cultural Fashion Show