Musiques d'Afrique:
Jean Paul Samputu
(Rwanda)
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Jean Paul Samputu is Rwanda's most internationally exposed singer, with a musical career
of more than 20 years. As a small land-locked country, Rwanda developed a distinct musical tradition (UNESCO officially
declared Rwandan national dance as one of the world's Unique Cultural Heritages), but the country's music is not well
known outside its borders. Besides Samputu, only Cécile Kayirebwa released an album in the 1990s that was
distributed worldwide. Exposed to both traditional music and modern western music, such as Stevie Wonder and Bob Marley, he enjoyed singing in choirs. In 1982, he helped set up the Nyampinga Band and made a few albums with this band. In 1985, he left the band and recorded a first solo album. Soon, he formed his own band called Ingeli. His stardom was rising in the early 1990s, he toured in Uganda together with Cécile Kayirebwa, and in Europe in 1993. The tragedy of the Rwandan genocide put a temporary stop to his career, he lost 6 members of his family, his father, mother, three brothers and a sister. However, he came back and started working on a humanitarian level to help his country. He recorded regularly again and eventually in 2003, he won a Kora Award for Best African Traditional Artist. In 2004, he arrived in the United States. Samputu sings in 6 languages (Kinyarwanda, Swahili, Lingala, Luganda, 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. His latest album Sources: [external link: http://www.samputu.com]. [external link: http://www.worldmusiccentral.org]. [external link: listen to his latest album at Calabashmusic.com]. Born: 15 March 1962, in Butari (Rwanda) Style: vocal Rwandan music, gospel, rumba. |
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| Title | Year | Label | Remarks |
| Testimony from Rwanda | 2004 | Multicultural Media MCM-4003 | |
| Abaana | 2003 | Self-produced | |
| Disi Garuka | 2000 | EworldMusic | |
| Igihe Kirageze | 1999 | EworldMusic | |
| Ubuphura Buba Munda | 1997 | ||
| Ubaha Ikiremwa Muntu | 1997 | ||
| Mutima W'Urugo | 1996 | ||
| Kenyera Inkindi Y'Ubuzima | 1995 | ||
| Twararutashye | 1993 | ||
| Bahizi Beza | 1991 | ||
| Mr. Bigirumwami | 1986 | With the Ingeli Band | |
| Tegeka Isi | 1985 | ||
| Albums with the Nyampinga Band: | |||
| Ingendo Y'Abeza | 1984 | With the Nyampinga Band | |
| Suzuki | 1983 | With the Nyampinga Band |
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