The late Rodrigue Karemera was a professional musician whose career and personal experiences left an enduring mark on Rwandan music. Before the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, he studied music abroad and contributed to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, helping to prepare music curricula for schools.
Karemera, who also created popular children’s songs such as Mbonye akazuba keza and Mbe kanyamanza keza, often drew inspiration from personal experiences and the lives of people close to him. While previous articles suggested that his two-part song Ubarijoro was dedicated to his father, his brother Charles Nkubito clarified in an interview with KT Radio that the composition was actually for their maternal uncle, who had fled to Uganda in 1959. The song was intended as a message urging his uncle to return safely to Rwanda.
Despite its heartfelt message, Ubarijoro drew scrutiny in the early 1990s, and Karemera was briefly arrested by some Tutsi accusing him of collaborating with RPA Inkotanyi fighters. He was later released and continued composing, including Ubarijoro Part Two, which he dedicated to peace amid the oppressive climate of the Habyarimana regime, even as it failed to prevent the mass killings of Tutsi in 1994.
Karemera, along with his wife and child, was later killed in their home in Gikondo. The murder was mocked on the radio by Habimana Kantano of RTLM, highlighting the tragic environment in which Rwandan artists lived at the time.
Indahiro: A Song of Love
According to Charles Nkubito, Karemera composed Indahiro in 1979 for Madeleine Mukakibibi, whom he married in 1983. The song, a love tribute, was written despite Karemera leaving a seminary in Nyakibanda, where he had studied to become a priest, unfinished.
The track remains cherished today among fans of igisope music, notable for its creative blend of musical styles. It opens as a slow ballad, shifts into a disco rhythm, and incorporates traditional kinimba elements, showcasing Karemera’s innovative approach to composition.
Musical Collaborators
When performing Indahiro, Karemera worked with accomplished musicians. Among them were Kayenga Dembo Ibrahim, known as Tam Fum, from the Democratic Republic of Congo, who played solo guitar, and the late Déo Santos on bass guitar. Together, they performed as part of the band Les Fellows, helping bring Karemera’s compositions to wider audiences.
Through his music, Rodrigue Karemera continues to be remembered not only for his technical skill but also for the personal stories and heartfelt messages woven into his songs, ensuring that works like Indahiro remain an enduring part of Rwanda’s cultural legacy.
