Jean-Paul Samputu

Rwanda Rwiza redirects here. For the Rwandan national anthem, see Rwanda Nziza

Jean-Paul Samputu (born 15 March 1962) is a Rwandan singer, songwriter, and musician. A winner of the Kora Award in 2003, Samputu travels the world as a cultural ambassador for Rwanda.

Jean-Paul Samputu
Birth name	Jean-Paul Samputu
Born	(1962-03-15) March 15, 1962 (age 62) Butare, Rwanda
Genres	Soukous, rumba, reggae, afrobeat, gospel
Occupation	Musician
Instrument(s)	Vocals, guitar
Years active	1977–present

Born in Rwanda in 1962, Samputu began singing in 1977 in a church choir, and was influenced by traditional and contemporary music, including Stevie Wonder, Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff, and Lionel Richie. He arrived in the US in 2004 for Ten Years Remembering, an event commemorating the 10th anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda.^[1]

Samputu sings in six languages^[2](Kinyarwanda, Swahili, Lingala, Ganda, French and English) and in styles ranging from soukous, rhumba and reggae, to traditional Rwandan 5/8, Afrobeat, pygmy, and gospel. He combines unique musical traditions from all regions of Rwanda, among them, Intwatwa, Umushayayo, Imparamba, and Ikinimba.

Early life

Jean Paul Samputu was born on 15 March 1962^[3] in Butare, Rwanda.^[4]

Awards and honours

• Kora Award for Most Promising African Male Artist, 2003^[5]
• 2006 International Songwriting Competition: 1st-place winner for World Music for "Psalm 150"^[6]
• Inter Religious and International Federation for World Peace: Ambassador of Peace, 2007

Discography

Albums

Year	Title
1985	Tegeka Isi
1991	Bahizi Beza
2003	Abaana
2004	Testimony from Rwanda
2014	Rwandan Dream (with Iain Stewart)[7]
2015	Only Love
2016	Voices from Rwanda

Singles

• Suzuki (1983 with Nyampinga

Band)

• Nyaruguru
• Ingendo Y'Abeza (1984 with Nyampinga Band)
• Mr. Bigirumwami (1986 with Ingeli Band)
• Rwanda Rwiza (1987)
• Twararutashye (1993 with Ingeli Band)
• Kenyera Inkindi Y'Ubuzima (1995)
• Mutima W'Urugo (1996)
• Ubaha Ikiremwa Muntu (1997)
• Ubuphura Buba Munda (1997)
• Igihe Kirageze (1999)
• Disi Garuka (2000)

References

1. Ilibagiza, Immaculee (2007). Left to Tell: One Woman's Story of Surviving the Rwandan Genocide.
2. "Bantu languages | Definition, Characteristics, & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
3. Mbabazi, Linda (3 January 2012). "Samputu in collabo with Japanese singer". The New Times. Archived from the original on 13 November 2017. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
4. Mbabazi, Linda (14 January 2014). "Meet Jean Paul Samputu". The New Times. Archived from the original on 13 November 2017. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
5. "2003 Kora All African Music Awards, Winners Announced". WorldMusicCentral.org. 7 December 2003. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
6. "2006 International Songwriting Competition Winners Announced – Grand Prize Package Including $25,000 goes to Scott Leger". WorldMusicCentral.org. 4 April 2007. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
7. "Rwandan genocide survivor releases album with Scot to mark conflict". 4 November 2014. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2018.

External links

• http://www.samputumusic.com
• http://www.samputufc.org
• http://www.mizero.org
• Voices from Rwanda (2006)
• Frank Bessem's Musiques d'Afrique:
• 1st PLACE WINNER for WORLD MUSIC in the INTERNATIONAL SONGWRITING COMPETITION
• Samputu Interview