It is difficult to find in Rwanda a strong acapella band like the American Pentatonix that has made history around the world. Only, things are likely to change after a new band called the John316 Vocal Band decided to sing in this way (Of mostly vocals) but they also mix and sing including occasional musical instruments.

This acapella style in which they sing is a way to sing without any musical instruments but using their voices both as vocals and instrument sound.

The John316 Vocal Band is made up of 12 people including 6 girls and 6 boys who belong to different churches. Members of the group include Nyundo music scholars such as Peace Hoziyana who participated in East Africa Got Talent, Ntigurirwa Danny who calls himself Danny Country in music, and Iradukunda Annah who is already a student at the current Nyundo school in Muhanga.

Micomyiza Mpenzi told us in a live interview that the group name came during a worship fellowship they were in as a group and God gave them the scripture in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. ”

“You look at our name and see that it consists of a biblical verse. We were in prayer reading John 3:16 and we took John316. Our goal is to make a contribution to the Kingdom of God by telling people that Jesus heals, refreshes, and delivers. ”

The group began its operations in June 2020 last year. It has a variety of songs including ‘Jesus oh what a wonderful child, as its debut song, on April 7 this year they released “I see the light” to commemorate the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and now they have released “Perfect peace”. Of their three songs, they have already put out two Acapella-style songs.

They say they have a lot of songs already written and ready to be recorded that will be delivered to Rwandans in the days to come. Most of the Group songs are in Accapella Style. 

The so-called 'Peace perfect peace' they put out recently is a song found in hymns from the Adventist book, made in two languages, Kinyarwanda and English, in conjunction with a little bit of the Total Praise song.

Rwanda-based Christian entertainment and news website, RwandaGospel releases every week a special edition of the Top 07 official Rwandan gospel music Chart. Sinicuza (I don't regret!) by Moses ft Gaby Kamanzi hits the number one spot on this edition. The song has come on first place after a rise from 7th place on week 2 and to 3rd place on week 3 and now finally NUMBER UNO in this week. Congratulation to Moses and Gaby Kamanzi.

Please see the full chart below:

1.SINICUZA (I DON'T REGRET) by MOISE ft GABY KAMANZI

2.MBIVUZE NKOMEJE (I SAY IT BODLY) by MADINE ft RICHARD

3.NITASHINDA (I WILL OVERCOME) by SARAH UWERA 

4.ABBA (FATHER) by TONZI

5. DUSUKEHO UMWUKA (Fill us with your Spirit) by GRACIOUS GRACE (Entrance)

6.DONNE-MOI TON ONCTION (GIVE ME YOUR ANOINTING) by UNIK MAHORO & LYDIA NISHIMWE

7.UMWUKA WERA (HOLY SPIRIT) by SERGE IYAMUREMYE

Worship and Praise Music Artist, Israel Mbonyi remembers all those who have a talent for singing regardless at their age. He set up a very simple way that will help them to illuminate their talents and enable them to enter into their calling to serve God through worship.

The forthcoming ‘Rwanda Gospel Stars Live’ could finally, give local gospel artists a financial boost who have been gravely affected by the pandemic. The concept, which runs between May and August, is expected to attract a host of gospel artists of all age groups to not only empower them financially but to also promote and support the gospel music industry to the vast audience of the creative industry in general.

“It’s so sad that an artist who has been entertaining people at concerts has to struggle because of this pandemic. We are all aware that there is far less investment in Gospel than secular musicians,” said Mike Karangwa, the project coordinator of Rwanda Gospel Stars Live.

“It’s not a competition, but a platform to support our artistes doing gospel music so it can change their lives. For us, this is a life-changing platform with music shows that can finally link gospel musicians and their supporters to keep them connected through entertainment” said Samuel Nyandwi, the Managing Director of Matts Rwanda services, the company organizing the event.

Nyandwi added that the concept is there to stay, with a target to expand it from a national level to a regional level and even make it continental.

Organizers of the event are currently doing awareness about the event among different gospel musicians before they announce the top ten that will take part in the first edition of the event that kicks off in the first week of June.

The 10 artists will be selected based on the experience they have in music, how active they have been, have at least two albums or at least a music video that has no less than one million views on YouTube.

They will be selected by a team of journalists, gospel musicians’ associations and music pioneers closely following the gospel music industry.

They are joined by the five most performing up-and-coming artists who will also be selected to do curtain-raising performances during the live shows which start by the beginning of July.

The shows will be broadcast live on KC2, an entertainment TV channel courtesy of Rwanda Broadcasting Agency, whereby a lineup of two top gospel artists and one upcoming artist will be performing every Saturday.

During the whole campaign, participating artists will be given numbers to which supporters can use to send their support through what is dubbed ‘vote and support’ system.

With the system, Karangwa said they are looking forward to raising funds to support artists.

People will be able to support their favorite artists with the ‘vote and support’ process by dialing *544# and follow prompts and every artist will be getting a report about the support from the ‘vote and support’ system on their emails on a regular basis.

“Like secular artistes, gospel artists also want to see their music make an impact on their lives, spiritually and financially. That’s why they need our support. The music they do cost them money and their lives rely on none but what they get from music,” said Assoumpta Muganwa, the Vice President of Rwanda Gospel Music Union.

Supporters will be able to support their favorite artists with any amount not less than Rwf200.

After the month-long performances, artists will undergo a one-week boot camp to get training sessions on music entrepreneurship and music business. With the training package, artists will pitch and present project proposals that can make an impact on the development of Rwanda’s gospel music industry.

The top three projects will get funding during the finals slated for August 29.

Source/The Newtimes

Gospel Singer Uwitonze Clementine a.k.a Tonzi has released a new song called 'ABBA' in Swahili and English in preparation for the upcoming french one.  The song ‘ABBA’ has no local language, such as Kinyarwanda inside. This song comes to complete the list of the already released songs where foreign or regional languages such as SWAHILI and ENGLISH were predominant, these include but not limited to titles such as; "WASTAHILI", "I AM A VICTOR" among others.

In her message in the song ABBA, which usually means "God the Father", Tonzi expresses how God is good and His will for His people is for their best. That God's time in people's lives is the best for all situations.

Let remind you that Tonzi is one of the Rwandan best Gospel artists with more than 20 years in the ministry. Very supportive woman of God to her fellow artists and most upcoming artists. The song ABBA was produced by a promising producer and artist, BABOU MELO, in her new studio called "MOK VYBS".

WATCH OUT FOR TONZI'S LATEST RELEASE, ABBA.

Singer Mbabazi Madine, a worship leader from  Asaph Music International in Zion Temple Kibagabaga Parish, has just started solo singing and career where she has just put out her first and debut song called MBIVUZE NKOMEJE (I speak it boldly) featuring with Richard, a must watch rising talent.
Mbabazi Madine, a resident of Kigali City in Kibagabaga, is an amazing gifted girl with a background as a worship leader in Asaph Choir. Raised and educated in a Christian family (with a mother as an Intercessor), Madine has come to complete the list of uprising girls and women in the local gospel music industry with a new touch of worship anointing.

“My debut song is called MBIVUZE NKOMEJE (I speak it boldly). I wrote it based on the lifestyle I was living in before I knew God very well, and the change after knowing Him. How
life has changed and the opportunities I have experienced by serving God. The song was written by myself and the core message is 'WORSHIP GOD FOR HIS SALVATION ". Madine said in a live interview.
The artist confessed the names of her role models locally (Gaby Kamanzi) and internationally (Tasha Cobbs). When asked about her next move, she explained in her own word :

"Working on new songs for my first album and do my best by the grace of God to never leave my calling and gospel music".

BE LIFTED BY MADINE DEBUT SONG, MBIVUZE MBISHAKA HERE.

Rwanda-based Christian entertainment and news website, RwandaGospel releases every week a special edition of the Top 07 official Rwandan gospel music Chart. Nitashinda (I will Win/Overcome) by Sarah Uwera hits AGAIN the number one spot on this edition. The song has come on first place in the two consecutive weeks.

Please see the full chart below:

1.NITASHINDA (I WILL OVERCOME) by SARAH UWERA 

2.MBIVUZE NKOMEJE (I SAY IT BODLY) by MADINE ft RICHARD

3.SINICUZA (I DON'T REGRET) by MOISE ft GABY KAMANZI

4.UMUSARABA (THE CROSS) by PRECIOUS GISELE

5. UMWUKA WERA (Holy Spirit) by SERGE IYAMUREMYE (Entrance)

6.INZIRA ZAWE (YOUR WAYS) by KEILLA

7.NGWIZA IMBARAGA (FILL ME WITH YOUR POWER) by DOMINIC ASHIMWE

Rwanda-based Christian Entertainment and news website, RwandaGospel, releases every week a special edition of the Top 07 official Rwandan gospel music Chart. Nitashinda (I will Win/Overcome) by Sarah Uwera hits the number one spot on this edition.

Please see the full chart below:

1.NITASHINDA (I WILL OVERCOME) by SARAH UWERA 

2. INZIRA ZAWE (YOUR WAYS) by KEILLA

3. NGWIZA IMBARAGA (FILL ME WITH YOUR POWER) by DOMINIC ASHIMWE

4.NDABIZI (I KNOW) BY SENGA N. ft ADRIEN MISIGARO

5. UMUSARABA (THE CROSS) by PRECIOUS GISELE

6. MBIVUZE NKOMEJE (I SAY IT BODLY) by MADINE ft RICHARD

7. SINICUZA (I DON'T REGRET) by MOISE ft GABY KAMANZI

Worshiper Gisele Precious most known in the Song, Imbaraga z'Amasengesho ( 'The Power of Prayer') and many more various songs, has come a long way in preparing her second Album, where she has dropped her second single in less than 3 months after the first song of the album was released.

In a live interview, Gisele Precious told us that the song "UMUSARABA" (The 'cross') was written during the 'COVID Stay at Home' period after reading God's Word about
The Cross based on the scripture of 1 Corinthians 1:18.

“I wrote a song on the cross during the lockdown period after reading The Bible. The message in the song comes to remind people of the power of the cross of Jesus and its value to those who believe in Jesus.", She said.

Precious also added that fans should expect more new songs in the future because she still has more songs to come out from her ongoing second album in the making. “This is the second song on my second album so feel free to expect more songs from this album! " said Precious.
The song "Umusaraba" (The 'Cross') was released with its own video, which was well-received by many fans and colleagues in the worship ministry including Gaby Kamanzi, one of the renowned worship leaders and gospel artist, who said she was touched by the song as she wrote on her Instagram wall:

“Thank you so much sister Gisele Precious for this wonderful song. You can find this song on her Youtube channel, don't forget to ‘Subscribe’ and click on the bell to see what she is up to.
I love you all. "

Gospel music stars Aline Gahongayire and Serge Rugamba have just released the video for their song dubbed, “Umwami Yesu.” 

The track was originally written and sung by seasoned worship singer Alexis Dusabe, 10 years ago. The inspiring and fascinating video was directed by Borris and Video by Harris. It is inspired by the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The duo hopes that the song will uplift Rwandans, as it’s a call for people to put their trust and hope in Jesus during these uncertain times. For Gahongayire, “Umwami Yesu” represents her passion for Christ, as she continues her journey as a gospel musician, and her social impact initiatives, which include ‘Mvura Nkuvure’, ‘Ndineza’ and ‘We for Love’, among others.