Jean-Paul Samputu
Encyclopedia
Jean-Paul Samputu is a singer, songwriter, and musician from Rwanda
.
Jean Paul Samputu has established himself as one of the most prominent African artists on the world stage. A winner of the prestigious Kora Award
(the "African Grammy") in 2003, Samputu travels the world as a cultural ambassador for Rwanda, bringing to his audiences not only traditional African singing, dancing, and drumming, but also a message of peace and reconciliation. A survivor of the genocide in Rwanda, Samputu takes us to the most positive place of humanity through his spirit and graciousness. More than a talented and inspiring musician, Samputu is a model for anyone who wants to make a difference in this world today.
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. After winning the Kora Award for Best African Traditional Artist in 2003, he arrived in the US in 2004 for Ten Years Remembering, an event commemorating the 10th anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda. He continues his efforts to educate young people about genocide through panel discussions and forums at colleges and universities across the country. Samputu has been honored with the opportunity to share his message and his music at The National Civil Rights Museum for the 2005 Freedom Awards, where he performed in front of honorees Oprah Winfrey, and Ruby Dee, as well as the ceremony's host, Golden Globe Award winner Angela Bassett. He is one of only two African artists to perform for the World Culture Open at the Lincoln Center in New York, and has also performed for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees for World Refugees Day. Other performances include Duke University, as part of Duke's prestigious Performance Series, the Lake Eden Arts Festival
(LEAF) in North Carolina, Pace University and Pace Law School, and many other universities, churches, schools, and communities.
His latest CD, Abana , showcases Samputu's versatility. His recordings are steeped in the many rich traditions of Rwandan music and dance, and include influences from Uganda, Burundi, and the Congo, as well as pygmy voices and traditions. It is this deep and fertile mix of songs, instruments, and dances that embodies Samputu's tremendously varied talents. Samputu sings in 6 languages (Rwanda, Swahili, Lingala, Ganda, French and English), and in styles ranging from soukous, rhumba, vodou 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 dance technique and style demonstrates why UNESCO officially declared Rwandan national dance one of the world's Unique Cultural Heritages. With his dance troupe Ingeli, he captivates audiences of all ages. He has performed for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, at the National Museum of Civil Rights Freedom Awards, and at many colleges, universities, festivals, churches, and communities around the world.
In the 1980s, Samputu was a member of popular Rwandan band Nyampinga, who produced three albums. In 1985 he produced his first solo LP, Tegeka Isi. Throughout the late 1980s he was a member of Orchestra INGELI. Samputu toured Europe
in 1993, and released his Twararutashye LP. During the Rwandan genocide
in 1994, he lost his parents and three siblings. In 1998 he moved to Canada
.
In 2003 Samputu was awarded the Kora Award
for Most Promising African Male Artist. In 2004 Samputu moved to the United States
where he now resides in the state of Vermont
.
In 2006, Samputu won the 1st place winner for World Music in the International Songwriting Competition with "Psalm 150".
In 2007, Samputu was recognized as an "Ambassador of Peace" by the Interreligious and International Federation for World Peace.
In Allentown, Pennsylvania in 2007, Jean-Paul Samputu provided a moving interview on PierreTerre.com called Healing Rwanda: Jean Paul Samputu and the Forgiveness of Murder (http://pierreterre.com/story.asp?ID=101 or http://vimeo.com/3171831).
Samputu performs songs in six languages; Kinyarwanda, Swahili
, Lingala
, Luganda, French
, and English
, and in various musical styles such as soukous
, rumba, reggae
, afrobeat
and gospel
.
Currently, Jean Paul Samputu is signed to Mi5 Recordings and distributed by EMI. He is working with Producer and former Modern English member Ted Mason as well as Sandra Bernhard's new Afropop/rock project. Collaborating on the project are Chrissie Hynde, Papa Wemba, Lagbaja, et al. Samputu will join Sandra Bernhard and guest artists for a tour in 2008.
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
.
Jean Paul Samputu has established himself as one of the most prominent African artists on the world stage. A winner of the prestigious Kora Award
Kora Awards
The Kora Awards are music awards given annually for musical achievement in sub-Saharan Africa. Founded in 1994 by Ernest Adjovi, they are comparable to the American Grammy Awards in intent...
(the "African Grammy") in 2003, Samputu travels the world as a cultural ambassador for Rwanda, bringing to his audiences not only traditional African singing, dancing, and drumming, but also a message of peace and reconciliation. A survivor of the genocide in Rwanda, Samputu takes us to the most positive place of humanity through his spirit and graciousness. More than a talented and inspiring musician, Samputu is a model for anyone who wants to make a difference in this world today.
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. After winning the Kora Award for Best African Traditional Artist in 2003, he arrived in the US in 2004 for Ten Years Remembering, an event commemorating the 10th anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda. He continues his efforts to educate young people about genocide through panel discussions and forums at colleges and universities across the country. Samputu has been honored with the opportunity to share his message and his music at The National Civil Rights Museum for the 2005 Freedom Awards, where he performed in front of honorees Oprah Winfrey, and Ruby Dee, as well as the ceremony's host, Golden Globe Award winner Angela Bassett. He is one of only two African artists to perform for the World Culture Open at the Lincoln Center in New York, and has also performed for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees for World Refugees Day. Other performances include Duke University, as part of Duke's prestigious Performance Series, the Lake Eden Arts Festival
Lake Eden Arts Festival
Lake Eden Arts Festival is a non-profit organization established to build community and enrich lives through the arts, locally and globally, through festivals, events, mentoring, and educational programs....
(LEAF) in North Carolina, Pace University and Pace Law School, and many other universities, churches, schools, and communities.
His latest CD, Abana , showcases Samputu's versatility. His recordings are steeped in the many rich traditions of Rwandan music and dance, and include influences from Uganda, Burundi, and the Congo, as well as pygmy voices and traditions. It is this deep and fertile mix of songs, instruments, and dances that embodies Samputu's tremendously varied talents. Samputu sings in 6 languages (Rwanda, Swahili, Lingala, Ganda, French and English), and in styles ranging from soukous, rhumba, vodou 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 dance technique and style demonstrates why UNESCO officially declared Rwandan national dance one of the world's Unique Cultural Heritages. With his dance troupe Ingeli, he captivates audiences of all ages. He has performed for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, at the National Museum of Civil Rights Freedom Awards, and at many colleges, universities, festivals, churches, and communities around the world.
In the 1980s, Samputu was a member of popular Rwandan band Nyampinga, who produced three albums. In 1985 he produced his first solo LP, Tegeka Isi. Throughout the late 1980s he was a member of Orchestra INGELI. Samputu toured Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
in 1993, and released his Twararutashye LP. During the Rwandan genocide
Rwandan Genocide
The Rwandan Genocide was the 1994 mass murder of an estimated 800,000 people in the small East African nation of Rwanda. Over the course of approximately 100 days through mid-July, over 500,000 people were killed, according to a Human Rights Watch estimate...
in 1994, he lost his parents and three siblings. In 1998 he moved to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
In 2003 Samputu was awarded the Kora Award
Kora Awards
The Kora Awards are music awards given annually for musical achievement in sub-Saharan Africa. Founded in 1994 by Ernest Adjovi, they are comparable to the American Grammy Awards in intent...
for Most Promising African Male Artist. In 2004 Samputu moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
where he now resides in the state of Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
.
In 2006, Samputu won the 1st place winner for World Music in the International Songwriting Competition with "Psalm 150".
In 2007, Samputu was recognized as an "Ambassador of Peace" by the Interreligious and International Federation for World Peace.
In Allentown, Pennsylvania in 2007, Jean-Paul Samputu provided a moving interview on PierreTerre.com called Healing Rwanda: Jean Paul Samputu and the Forgiveness of Murder (http://pierreterre.com/story.asp?ID=101 or http://vimeo.com/3171831).
Samputu performs songs in six languages; Kinyarwanda, Swahili
Swahili language
Swahili or Kiswahili is a Bantu language spoken by various ethnic groups that inhabit several large stretches of the Mozambique Channel coastline from northern Kenya to northern Mozambique, including the Comoro Islands. It is also spoken by ethnic minority groups in Somalia...
, Lingala
Lingala language
Lingala, or Ngala, is a Bantu language spoken throughout the northwestern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and a large part of the Republic of the Congo , as well as to some degree in Angola and the Central African Republic. It has over 10 million speakers...
, Luganda, French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, and in various musical styles such as soukous
Soukous
Soukous is a dance music genre that originated in the two neighbouring countries of Belgian Congo and French Congo during the 1930s and early 1940s, and which has gained popularity throughout Africa...
, rumba, reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
, afrobeat
Afrobeat
Afrobeat is a combination of traditional Yoruba music, jazz, highlife, funk and chanted vocals, fused with percussion and vocal styles, popularised in Africa in the 1970s. Its main creator was the Nigerian multi-instrumentalist and bandleader Fela Kuti, who gave it its name, who used it to...
and gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
.
Currently, Jean Paul Samputu is signed to Mi5 Recordings and distributed by EMI. He is working with Producer and former Modern English member Ted Mason as well as Sandra Bernhard's new Afropop/rock project. Collaborating on the project are Chrissie Hynde, Papa Wemba, Lagbaja, et al. Samputu will join Sandra Bernhard and guest artists for a tour in 2008.
Discography
- Suzuki (1983 with Nyampinga Band)
- Ingendo Y'Abeza (1984 with Nyampinga Band)
- Tegeka Isi (1985 solo album)
- Mr. Bigirumwami (1986 with Ingeli Band)
- Rwanda Rwiza (1987 single)
- Bahizi Beza (1991 solo album)
- Twararutashye (1993)
- Kenyera Inkindi Y'Ubuzima (1995)
- Mutima W'Urugo (1996)
- Ubaha Ikiremwa Muntu (1997)
- Ubuphura Buba Munda (1997)
- Igihe Kirageze (1999)
- Disi Garuka (2000)
- Abaana (2003)
- Testimony from Rwanda (2004)