Kwizera recording

Phil: At long last, the singing group from Bwiza has recorded an album! After months of waiting and two disastrous attempts to do field recordings up on the mountain, we decided to bring Kwizera (meaning “hope” or “faith”) into town. And so it happened, the day before Valentine’s Day. The music will be mixed and mastered here, then sent to Canada for production of CDs – thanks to funding from SOLID, the small NGO in our home community on Salt Spring Island. Once made, we’ll find a way to bring the CDs back to Rwanda for Kwizera to sell for promotion and income-generation.

Off to Kigali in a hired minivan, Kwizera’s nineteen plus our driver and conductor, plus me and Claude, our organizer/translator. That makes… twenty-three! And as you can see, everyone is singing, practicing their songs.

First stop is a neighbourhood resto where Claude has arranged an inexpensive meal. Four out of the ten women have babies with them, typically wrapped tightly to their backs when not feeding.

Ngarambe is Kwizera’s chef or songleader, and also songwriter for the group. His wife Mukankubana, sitting behind him, is a consummate dancer – her dancing feet will feature on the album cover.

In the studio at Rafiki Records, getting set up. That’s Mike in the doorway, donating his time along with owner Dicken Marshall.

Now we’re rolling! One of the young moms, Niyoyigenera, dances with ankle bells while the men play their traditional flutes. The two-fingered clap is to reduce the sound for recording purposes.

That’s Claude keeping track of the songs on the right. He works on Bwiza projects for a local NGO and his dedication and commitment is central to the success of the village.

Last song, going all out.

When we’ve got ten songs recorded, we load up the van and head back to Bwiza, everyone singing Kinyarwanda gospel songs at the top of their lungs: “Jesus is the driver, we are the imodaka (vehicle)…” We arrive at the playing field at the top just as a rainstorm hits, so it’s one last photo before our driver races the storm down the slippery mud track to the main road. (Notice Claude in the centre, bending down so he’s not blocking others – the woman in front of him stands about 4 foot 6).