A taste* of Rwandan popular music

Here are a few songs that are ubiquitous here, if you’re curious about Rwandan pop/hip hop:

Amayobera means something like “that thing that cannot be explained/articulated.” A love song, obviously.

Igipimo means balance - as in the refrain: “it’s a balance really, a balance.” Another love song.

*see post on kumva

Don't use Facebook during working hours!

From the newspaper Umusanzu, an article about why Facebook should not be used during working hours. I particularly like the partially photoshopped graphic.

Lady Gaga has arrived in Rwanda

Heard on the radio this morning in the market. I have also arrived in Rwanda and am enjoying it immensely. I'll post some first impressions and such later (Sunday?); the timed internet and countdown clock are not conducive to good writing.

First Impressions: Rwandan Radio

The songs were a mix of Rwandan, dancehall, and what you’d hear 6 months ago on an hip-hop/rap station. The DJ would periodically turn down the volume on a song to talk in heavily accented English (not necessarily about the song), then turn the song back up, then turn it down and offer an interpretation of the song, then turn it back up for the sole purpose of fading it into the next song. Also, the DJ sometimes sang along to the songs.

Not sure if this is typical of Rwandan radio or unique to the program that happened to be on.