Very early in his music career, Massamba Intore faced a tough stagger. He’d started his career at six years old, performing with the troupe ‘Intore Indashyikirwa’, writing his first song ‘Ndi Uwawe’, and honing his craft early in his twenties, pursuing love and joyful songs.
Massamba saw his rise to fame with songs such as ‘Arihehe’ and ‘Nzajya Inama’, exhibiting the Rwandan traditional norms and culture for all to hear.
However, in 1989, the fallacious feeling of the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda was roaming, and what had been a peaceful existence in Burundi, surrounded by a musician father, Athanase Sentore, and a university pursuit was halted. Massamba, inspired by the hero Fred Gisa Rwigema, joined other Rwandans in the liberation struggle. This feat saw him travel around East and Central Africa to clarify the liberation fight to Rwandan refugees through songs.
His incredible role garnered the RPF-Inkotanyi not only determined soldiers but also, like all heroes, Massamba had found his ultimate superpower, the tools of strength through his Gakondo opera to up the morale of his compatriots. And the war was won, and the artist had to come to terms with his artistry.
A good musician’s relationship with the past is tricky. You want to move forward without entirely forsaking what you’ve already done. You don’t want it defining you when so much future defining lies ahead. With an assiduous and delirious Gakondo passion and skill, blending traditional Inanga and Umwirongi and modern music genres (Piano and guitar), Massamba surged back to his music with a deep need to heal and recover the unity once pushed down the barrel of despair and hate in the country.
For 40 years, Massamba has conquered the hearts of Rwandans with his renowned songs, ‘Kanjogera’, ‘Araje’, ‘Uzaze Urebe’, ‘Ibimbabaza’, ’Mpinganzima’, and more, that cemented his name in the Gakondo music industry, earning him various accolades over the decades. Massamba sought to make an impact, to fend for his countrymen and to create meaningful work amidst a rebuilding Rwanda.
He released his first solo album “Masamba n’Indahemuka” in 2002, and “Wirira”, produced in Belgium, won the “Jeunesse Musicale” award in Belgium. His third album “Nyeganyega”, was the kind of album that broke moulds and made mosaics of the pieces.
Notably, after the liberation, Masamba was invited by the troupe ‘Jeunesses Musicales’ in Belgium to train the Rwandan youth troupe in Belgium called “Amarebe n’Imena”. While there, he attended a comedy music school, enabling him an entry into the acting scene that later proved fruitful as he joined the “Groupov” performing arts theater, which produced a film about the 1994 Rwandan genocide. The play received several awards at the “Festival d’Avignon” in France. Among the accolades he received were for best-written script and innovative production.
Upon his return to Rwanda, Massamba would act in Romeo Dallaire’s film “Shake Hands With The Devil,” portraying the late Minister Lando. An opportunity that saw him participate in nearly 120 festivals, including the “Festival de Mataf” in Israel, “Festival Fort de France” in Martinique, “Jazz Festival” in Dublin, “Festival de Majorque” in Spain, “FESPAD” in Rwanda, “FESPAM” in Congo-Brazzaville, and many others.
He continued to showcase his work in Africa, Europe, and North America, performing alongside renowned African artists such as Youssou N’Dour, Ismael Lo, Helmut Lotti, Casimir Zao Zoba, and Lokua Kanza. He also performed with Corneille Nyungura in Montréal, Canada.
Massamba’s effervescent gallery of achievements began to include mentoring fellow Gakondo artists such as Jules Sentore, Ruti Joel, Teta Diana, and more; and later, became the coach of the Rwanda National Ballet (Urukerereza), all to further the Traditional arts in the country.
A career of legends he lived. Singer-songwriter, Actor, and Coach, Massamba drew from the country’s pain and beauty for inspiration in his work. There is something remarkable about all this. A man relenting to keep an art form as taut and meaningful as possible, capitulating to the beauty of his surroundings, finding peace amid nature’s splendour.
After four decades of this legacy, Massamba wants to celebrate with everyone who’s pushed him to this excellence. His fans. In a concert titled “3040 Ubutore”, slated to take place at the BK Arena on August 31st, the Gakondo singer plans to not only celebrate his longevity but also to highlight the nation’s history through Gakondo works that significantly contributed to the country’s liberation struggle. 30 years of Liberation.
Massamba’s music has transcended the scope of mere words and melody and has become the icing on moods and vestibule of occasions. Weddings, heartbreak, reflection, the dispute of love. Not in that order. He sang them all, and now fans can once again dance to them all.
“I believe it is essential for those who have lived and deeply understand our history to share it with the young ones so that they can continue preserving it,” Massamba stated, dedicating the show to all Rwandans from all backgrounds, in hopes of fostering a love for traditional culture among the youth.
The concert will feature Massamba Intore alongside artists known for their traditional music, as well as contemporary musicians influenced by this genre, including Ariel Wayz, Ruti Joel, Impakanizi (Iradukunda Yves), Dj Marnaud and Dj GRVNDLVNG.
Massamba happens to be much more than merely a good musician. He’s been playing professionally since the 1980s and, at 56, his music swayed and rhythmically nodded as rapt, reverent congregants, fueling an entire generation with a collection of songs that, till today, excites him. The past — the repertoire, the old stuff, the hits — feel like a karaoke of himself.
