Kigali’s Musical and Creative Landscape with Kaya Byinshii
Introducing Deep Dive, our latest content series where we ask creative women about their areas of expertise in the destinations that they know best. Come along for the ride as we dive deep into the world’s most exciting destinations through music, food, fashion, design, and more.
Kaya Byinshii is a Rwandan musician and actress based in Kigali. Her music is a fusion of soul, blues, folk, and Rwandan traditional rhythm. We sat down with Kaya to hear about her work, the music scene in Kigali, why it’s an exciting time and place to be creative, and where we should go when we’re in the city.
We would love to hear more about your work and what you do.
I'm a musical artist and actress—I sing, write, and compose music and also perform in theaters. For me, creating music and art is about developing a space where people can explore subjects that are often pushed to the background because of societal norms. I’m really interested in human behavior and I like to use music to express the feelings that we tend to keep to ourselves because they might be considered taboo or uncomfortable. I'm proud to be Rwandan and I feel like a lot of my inspiration is drawn from my ancestors, my parents, and the people here. I believe our ancestors communicate through us and without them, I wouldn't be here, so that really motivates me.
How did you get started in music?
Music has been a part of my life since I was a child. I took a break but picked it up again in university where I joined a band and started performing live. My friends pushed me to release a single in 2019 which led to me working with a local record label and releasing my first EP. Since then, I’ve been lucky enough to be invited to so many places including France, Ethiopia, Algeria—so many places. I’ve been able to connect with so many other cultures and it’s been beautiful to see other people connect with my songs even though it’s in a language they don’t understand.
How would you describe Rwandan music?
Historically, music in Rwanda played a significant role both spiritually and royally. In the kingdom, music was vital because we believe it transcends many worlds beyond what we can see. Blues has been in our music traditions for a long time so if you listen to ancient Rwandan music that’s what you’ll hear, and it still influences our music today. An example of Rwandan blues fusion is my song called "Mana y'i Rwanda" which translates to "God of Rwanda" from my latest Album "Ukwiyuburura.” In more recent years, we have a popular genre called Kinyatrap which is a fusion of Rwandan rhythm and trap/house music.
Where should visitors go to experience the Kigali music scene?
I recommend checking out L'espace. It’s a private cultural hub with a monthly program where they host music, exhibitions, and artist residencies. There is also the Volkano Festival, an amazing three-day music festival in the north of the country near the Virunga Mountains. You’ll discover many different genres and underground artists doing crazy things that you probably wouldn’t have seen before, and it’s a great atmosphere too.
Kigali has got a lot of attention in recent years due to its growing creative landscape. Can we hear some more about that?
I feel there's a heightened sense of activity in the arts scene. People are creating nonstop, putting themselves out there, and that's a very good thing. Collaborations are easier to make because Kigali is so small so it’s easy to connect. For instance, if I have a project and need a designer, I know exactly who to call and they're always willing to help. I just feel like it's so precious because there is power in working together and our artists understand this well. Rwanda isn't as developed as others where artists can easily find funding from the government or private institutions. Our community understands this and puts more emphasis on collaboration, which I'm so grateful for. Being in this active and revolutionary moment inspires me so much. It goes back to the Rwandan spirit of unity, of being together, of truly loving not just the country as land, but the people.
Tell us your must-do hidden gem in Kigali.
My favorite place that I really recommend people to visit is the Nyamirambo Free Zone. Nyamirambo is one of the coolest neighborhoods in the city. I was born and raised there so I really love it for sure, but the Free Zone is quite new. It’s a lively and colorful area where they’ve blocked cars from being able to drive so you’ll find lots of outdoor restaurants where you can enjoy tea, coffee, and lots of good food.
