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is done through “In-service” training via the active participation in the preparation and running of each event under the supervision of experienced players in the relevant discipline.

“Simbizi” in Kinyarwanda means “I don’t know”. We choose this expression because the event venues will change for each show to adhere to the concept of discovery thus public will only discover the artists performing on the evening of the event. So, when someone is asked “Where are going tonight?” Simbizi! A surprise. Secondly the word sounds nice too.

Each show is recorded and filmed and the videos will be posted on all major social medias.

Can this project be exported out of Rwanda?

Yes, indeed! We started here in Kigali with the intention of replicating it at province level. For the time being this is our medium-term goal. The concept is “universal” and it is easily replicable everywhere. It is based on these main keywords: Discovery, Sharing, Exchange/Give-and-take and Mutual Support. We are not yet ready to move out of Rwanda but…who knows? I wish we can, one day.

Your house has become a get-together location for artists and you have also set up a recording studio.

True! I have organized quite a number of live shows, jam sessions, rehearsals with public allowing bands to present their new creations, presentations of new albums with listening session and with the artist exchanging live with the public. And more… I have indeed set up a professional recording studio in my house. I named it “Al CAPOLINEA”. I mainly did it for my recording needs but…Inevitably, and with much pleasure, I regularly have musicians knocking at the CAPOLINEA door, coming for recording and rehearsals. Services that I am pleased to offer at no cost. The studio is a real asset here. It allows local musicians to come and record their compositions and it is such a pleasure for me to deal with young, talented artists. They learn, I learn! It keeps me…young too

Tell us something about your artists!

The potential is enormous! There’s a huge “reservoir” of young talented musicians. On the other side the means and support given to artists is almost negligeable. Performances are held in bars, hotels where mainly covers are performed while public attention is generally quite low, as we all know. We are at the beginning of our adventure and, so far, we have organized one show that, due to Covid 19 restrictions, was done without public.

The first two artists who opened the show were Ariel Wayz and Bill Ruzima. Two very talented young song writers and passionate and emotional performers. Hard to express in few words their musical universe. I include herewith the links to their SiMBiZi performance as well as the links to their sites. I let you discover them through their performances and production .

Samuel Kamanzi is an invaluable partner in the management of the studio. He’s a great artist with such a personal “musical universe” that truly complement my own. I also give here the links to his sites for your discovery.

Future plans!

My personal plans are to continue with what I am doing now i.e. to support musicians and artists in general on a very volunteer basis. I came to Rwanda to stay… for good. As said, I have loads of spare time having left behind me my professional engagements.

As far as SiMBiZi VIBES short-term plans are concerned we are now focused in mobilizing funds to cover the costs of future performances. This is always the tricky part of the game! Nothing can be done without money! The concept at the basis of SiMBiZi is partnership and collaboration. All the staff concerned being them musicians as well as technicians are just paid an allowance as they share the idea of supporting together the “Rwanda Artistic Community”. People (the public) here are not used to pay for music. Seems obvious for you, maybe. But here is a different reality. Big shows are normally organized by big companies (Breweries etc.) and made free for the audience. Very few live shows are organized. People, as said, goes to bars and restaurants where live shows are sometimes organized. They just pay for their consumptions and most of time give little attention to what’s going on stage Nevertheless, the next two shows are funded and we are excited about their forthcoming organization

What do you expect from SiMBiZi Vibes?

Supporting and promoting young musicians provide guidance in composition techniques and sound processing using the technology (MIDI, analog recording, reel to reel, cassettes, digital recording - DAW) have taken an important part in my life. SiMBiZi offers exactly that and in my current situation as “privileged retiree”, I am thrilled to be able to participate in its management. I wish SiMBiZi all the success it deserves and I hope it will be able to help musicians, composers and performers to make themselves known while providing them with the tools to improve their knowledge, experience and skills.

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simbiziV/

Samuel Kamanzi:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kamanzi.samuel

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM_rgphrfL1_C2duqJ0iSA

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kamanzisamuel?lang=en

Bill Ruzima Links: https://songwhip.com/billruzima/hello-me (through this link you can get him on other platforms) https://twitter.com/ruzima_bill

Ariel Wayz Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AriellaWayz-221812195789120

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ArielWayz

Instagram: https://instagram.com/ariel_wayz

Twitter: https://twitter.com/arielwayz?lang=en

More on Rwanda and its music: http://music.africamuseum.be/instruments/english/rwanda/ rwanda.html

Instagram: https://instagram.com/simbizi_vibes?r=nametag

Working tires us, working is a divine punishment, a yoke to plow fields that are not ours, whether they are factories or farms, minds or personal services, from primary to tertiary, working is pain!