Fierce competition for relevance and popularity among local musicians has seen old generation go back to the drawing board to retain a foothold in the industry.

However, it has not been smooth sailing for all of them as some have completely fizzled out of the scene.

Rwanda Today takes a look at the career of musicians who ruled the entertainment industry and their current status.

Miss Jojo Made entry through her debut song Mbwira in 2006 before launching her first album Itangiriro (genesis) in 2008 and Woman in 2012. She set the bar so higher, as one of the first young artists to break the glass ceiling in the region.

From Rwanda, Ms Jojo pioneered the culture of music collaborations when she recorded a Hooked on You with Uganda’s Michael Ross and Siwezi Enda with Kenya’s DNG. 2008 Pearl of Africa Music Awards (PAM) for Best Female Rwandan R&B artist, performed at the Africa Music Festal in Algeria in 2009 in addition to other big events like the East African Party, Kwita Izina, Pan African Dance Festival and Pan African Festival of Music.

Ms Jojo announced taking a break off music in 2012, before getting married in 2017.

Having relocated to Nairobi, Kenya, where she is based, with many still in hopes of seeing her return, she has stayed tight lipped.

Chris Cheetah

Christian Iradukunda, aka Chris Cheetah made himself a name between 2014 and 2016 through callaborations with local musicians. He released songs like Ndinda Tujyane, Rubanda Remix by Tom Close and Arampagije by Serge Iyamuremye.

Having worked with recording studios such as JFB, Kwetu films and Bridge Recordz, he made a bold move by venturing into music, as a singer in 2016, there by releasing his first song — I won’t Stop.

The music producer turned musician moved to Uganda in 2017, where he continued producing songs in collaboration with other Rwandan, Ugandan and Kenyan musicians from Rwanda and Uganda. He later moved to Nairobi, Kenya, where he is currently based.

TBB

The team who are known as Team Bob and Benja haven’t shown much ever since their split with MC Tino. The dancehall group only released Baby Lover in 2018, but was short lived. Though the group still exists, it hasn’t made any major stage appearance since then.

Diplomate

To close followers of the Rwandan Afro hip-hop genre, Diplomate raised hig the Hip-hop genre bar in Rwanda. Unlike musicians then, his craft was that of a philosophical and historical rhyme, which captured the high school audiences between 2006 and 2010.

In 2017, he was signed a deal with Kiwundo Entertainment, an Artists management label, and promised a return. Under his label, they made toured Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda in 2018. He has not made any major song releases, or stage appearances since then.

Khizz

Having risen to the scene in 2010, before scooping the 2012 Salax Music Awards for best new artist category, Khizz Kizito released more songs, which earned him a name.

He took a break of recording in 2014, before being promoted to the position of a manager at Incredible Records, his initial management label.

In his position, he worked with various artists, among them Ciney, Young Grace, Davis. D, Active Again, Bernard Bagenzi. He also ventured into the Wine selling business, which he currently still does.

Bably

Between 2007 and 2010, the rapper rose to fame through talent. Initially from the group Kossovo MOP in 2006, he embarked on a solo career, hence releasing songs like Isezerano rya Kera, Umwamikazi, Imbohe zizabohoka, Isoko among others and since 2008 cotrolled a huge following of supporters.

However, the rapper went off the scenes, only to resurface in 2017, when he held his wedding ceremony in Rwanda.

He has since then vanished, and he is currently a businessman in Dubai.

Gaby Umutare

Known for his Afro R&B songs, which he laced with Rwanda traditional styles, Umutare Gaby’s music, which included songs like Injyana, Ntunkangure and True Love among others, the Artist who hit the scene in 2012 and won many hearts till 2017 when he had a wedding.

Following this, he relocated to Australia. Since then nothing has been heard from him.

Other musicians who have vanished from the scene are fro pop music Ciney, Neg.G The General, Bac.T, Lil Pac, Fireman, TBB, Green P, K8 Kavuyo, Lil Ngabo, Skizzy, Gisa Kinganzo, Bull Dog and Koudou, Pacson.