User talk:Gracetandeamara/sandbox

Sister Félicité Niyitegeka (1934 - April 21, 1994) was a Catholic nun in charge of Centre Saint Pierre in Gisenyi town (now Rubavu Town), Western Province. She was born to Simon Sekabwa and Angelina Nyirampabuka. Those close to her nicknamed her Ikimanuka meaning due to her good personality.

Background and education
She went to secondary school in Groupe Scolaire d'Astrida, now known as Groupe Scolaire Officiel de Butare, from 1941 to 1946 and continued with her studies as a teacher in Save - Butare at Ecole de Monitrices. She belonged to. She was born in a family of 10 children and was the second born in the family. Any Tutsi from nearby villages run to the center seeking refuge before Felicite and other nuns at the center helped them to escape to the neigbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Felicite brother was a colonel, Col Nzungize Alphonse who was in charge of the Rwandan Army (FAR) base at Bigogwe. On hearing about his sister's efforts to save the Tutsi people, he sent a message imploring her to separate herself and flee to the Democratic Republic of Congo. The brother also sent escorts to help her flee. She sent back the escorts to her brother saying "please tell him that he should not worry about my security, I will be well. I cannot able to leave these people (The Tutsis), I am ready to stand with them no matter what happens" The Tutsis who had sought refuge were 43. She realised a verbal message may not reach her brother and decided to write a note instead. The note said In Kinyarwanda:

"Mon frère chéri, urakoze kuba washatse kunkiza. Ariko aho gukiza ubuzima bwanjye ntakijije abo nshinzwe, abantu 43, mpisemo gupfana nabo. Dusabire tugere ku Mana kandi unsezerere umukecuru (mama we) n’umuvandimwe. Ngeze ku Mana, nzagusabira. Witware neza! Bityo Ndagushimiye cyane kuba wantekereje. Niba Imana idukijije nk’uko tubyizeye ni ah’ejo". 'My dear brother whom I dearly love, I appreciate deeply your efforts to help and save me. But I have decided to die rather than leave these 43 people under my care alone. Pray for us that God in Heaven will receive us. Say goodbye to our old mum and our brother. When I reach heaven, I will pray for you. Stay in peace. I am deeply grateful that you thought about me. If God saves me, as I have faith, We will meet each other soon. Your Sister, Niyitegeka Félicité.' On April 21, the militia arrived at the Centre Saint Pierre and transported the remaining Tutsis as well as Felicité, who were singing songs praising God along the way, to an already prepared mass grave. They shot to death more than 20 refugees and six of the nuns leaving Felicité for the last. The number of victims from the Center including Félicité were 41 people. To this date, her body has never been found according to Deo Nkusi, Executive Secretary for the Chancellery for Heroes, National Orders and Decorations of Honour.

She was murdered in April 23, 1994 by Omar Serushego, who admitted in 1998 in the Arusha International Court of Justice that Felicité was one of 4 people he shot to death in the Gisenyi Cemetry. Serushego was sentenced to 15 years in prison in Mali. He was set free in 2012.

Career
She was a teacher belonging to the Belgian Catholic Order, Les Auxillaires De L'Apostalat.

Awards
Rwanda Chancellery for Heroes, National Orders and Decorations of Honour decorated Felicite Niyitegeka with the Rwanda National Heroes, highest Award, 'the Imena' Award. Heroes in the Imena Category are reputed for their extraordinary acts for the country marked by sacrifice, high importance and example. Niyitegeka Felicite is one of 4 Rwandans awarded this highest category of Heroes award. Others include Michel Rwagasana (‘Imena’),Agathe Uwilingiyimana (‘Imena’),Félicité Niyitegeka (‘Imena’), Umwami Mutara III Rudahigwa Charles Léon Pierre (‘Imena’) and Nyange Secondary School students. Universite Catholique de Louvain have called for Niyigeka Felicite to be declared a saint.

The life and times of Rwandan Music Icon, Kamaliza, Mutamuliza Annonciata.
Annonciata Mutamuliza, populary known as Kamaliza, was born on March 25 ,1954 in Rukara, Runyinya. She was the last born daughter in a family of eight, having lost 4 young siblings when they were very young to Léandre Rusingizandekwe and Bernadette Mukarushema. Her stage name Kamaliza derives from one of her songs Kamaliza.

Background and education
In her childhood she was nicknamed as 'parakomando' due to her tomboy nature. She was grew up in Burundi, after her family fled there after the 1959 massacres against the Tutsis. In 1968, after the death of her mother, she was sent to Zaire (current Democratic Du Congo) to live with her aunt, Anne Marie Murekeyisoni. She studied in a catholic secondary school in Likasi, Lubumbashi where she started her music career singing in Catholic church choirs. When she was 20 years, a choir master called Kiromboro noticed her music talent and gifted her a guitar. However her aunt was not happy with pursuing music interest, wishing to pursue more 'female' interests and tried to marry her to a young man. This led Kamaliza to return to Bujumbura to avoid the proposed courtship.

Career
She went to Bujumbura and briefly worked for the Ministry of Finance. After working hours and during holidays, she used to record her music on casettes on a radio gifted by her friend Terese. In 1982, she won a music competition in Bujumbura, and she adopted the stage name Kamaliza, after one of her songs. She would change her songs to Kirundi, so that they can receive air play, but would mix the songs with Kinyarwanda language. In 1990, she left Burundi, took her two guitars to join the Rwanda Patriotic Front, the liberation army that was formed to free Rwanda. She joined in the rank of sergeant in the army, but it was her songs that she was known for, songs that brought courage and hope. During this time, she would organise concerts to encourage the Rwanda Patriotic Front fighters and would collaborate with Intore Masamba, Munyanshoza Dieudonne bakunze kwita Mibirizi, Eric Senderi Nzaramba (ubu witwa Hit International), Jean Paul Samputu, Mariya Yohani, Bizimana Emmanuel Nello, Cecile Kayirebwa, Staff sergeant Robert n’abandi. All her songs had inspirations and messages. Kamaliza was a song about a generous woman who gave Kamaliza medecine for her father, but when Kamaliza went to pay for them medecine, the woman said what she wanted was the father to be healed not the money. Nzakumara Irungu was sung for Kamalizas close friend Tereza who lived only with her mother and Kamaliza telling her she would forever be her friend. 'Intare' was for a soldier called Kayitare who was brave, was persevering, humorous, and responsible. Rwandan musician Teta Diane is popular in Rwanda partly due to her ability to sing like the late Kamaliza.

After the Rwanda genocide, she composed the song ' Humura Rwanda' as a consolation to Rwandan survivors. After the war, she began an organisation 'Girubuntu Kamaliza' that supported orphans. She regularly held concerts in orphanages and used the proceeds to support orphans. In 1996, assisted by her friend Nzambazamariya Veneranda and SNV (a local rwandan NGO), she was supported to go to Germany to record her first album ' Humura Rwanda'. In the same year, she went to visit relatives in Rwanda from Burundi with her musician friends but on coming back, there was a car accident and she was thrown out from the car window and was in a coma for a week. She died in 5th November 1996. From  In 2017, Rwandan music artists organised a concert dubbed 'Umurage Nyawo Kamaliza concert' as a tribute to her contributions to music in Rwanda. Her songs include Kunda Ugukunda, Humura Rwanda, Umutoni, Mbabare Ngirente and Sinakwanze usually sung in concerts and weddings.

Sophie Nzayisenga: Rwanda's best know female 'Inanga' 'Zither' music instrument player
Sophie Nzayisenga is Rwanda best known female 'inanga' (or Zither in english )player. Inanga is a zither like traditional Rwandan music harp or a 10 or 11 chordaphone although can sometimes be between 8 and 16 strings, whose musical characteristics can be compared with a modern guitar. Inanga originated from the Rwandan Kingdom festivities and celebrations used to acomppany story telling and epic historical recounts. It was also played to soothe the King, the Umwami of the Rwandan people.

Sophie Nzayisenga was born in Rwanda Nyanza District, Southern Province in 1979. Her father was Thomas Girupfu Kirusu and comes from a long history of Inanga players. Her Uncle is the famous Rwandan Inanga Player Mushabizi Yohani Mariya Viyani. By the time she was 6 years old, she was a good Inanga player.

Background and education
Ordinarily, Inanga was a speciality of men but with the encouragement from her father, who used to play in the Court of the King or Umwami, Sophie Nzayisenga dared to venture where most girls could not. Sophie is a married with two children. Sophie lived in the genocide in 1994, and after the genocide stopped playing due to overwhelming sadness at loosing brothers and sisters. She eventually got back to playing the inanga and often after supper, she plays it to her kids and husband. Her father composed a popular song played on radio and TV called 'Impyisi Bihehe'. Her father started composing new music for her when she was 8 until when she was 15 years when she started composing music herself. She now combines traditional playing with her own modern musical style. She currently owns about 20 inanga. She expressed the desire to follow the footsteps of other famous Inanga players including her father Thomas Girupfu Kirusu, Sebatunzi (b 1900 died 1980), Rujindiri Bernard. She also credits her legendary uncle Mushabizi Yohani Mariya Viyani on encouragement to play Inanga.

International Exposure
She has travelled world wide to play Inanga. When she was 9 years, she played Inanga in a music festival in Bulgaria. She has played the Inanga in various events in Belgium, France, Egypt, Holland, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Germany and Tanzania. In 2015, she did a music tour of 20 states in the United States of America.

Songs
'Inganji' by Sophia Nzayisenga alongside Jeremy Danneman, William Parker & Tim Keiper (Why Not Jazz Room, NYC) 2. Twiyegerance 'Lets come together. 3. Inganji 'The victorius winner'. With Ngarukiye Daniel. Later performed with Jeremy Danneman, William Parker and Tim Keiper in Why not Jazz room in NYC)	4. Rwanda Nziza. 'Beautiful Rwanda' 	5. Abahigi 'Rwandan Hunters' 	6. Nyiramajamiro ' a song about a young girl who failed to find a suitable suitor.