Sophie Nzayisenga - Master of the Inanga (live @leguesswhofestival )

Sophie Nzayisenga is the first female master of the Rwandan traditional inanga: an oval-shaped, harp-like device that many have called Rwanda's most important musical instrument.

00:00 Inganji (Twin) - Kirusu Thomas
Inyambo (Talk about) - Sophie Nzayisenga
Nyangezi (People) - Trad. Courageous
Imigembe (Do hard work) - Sophie Nzayisenga


Sophie learned to play the inanga from her internationally acclaimed father Thomas Girupfu. She was just six when she first picked up an inanga and began playing. She is currently one of the leading professional female inanga player in Rwanda and East Africa.
In 1986, Nzayisenga released her first song ‘Ikera kurima’ which was played on Radio Rwanda after a stiff competition with other artists. Nzayisenga first started performing at different concerts and was met with great resistance, based on her gender and cultural norms and thereby decided to change those views for good. Or in her own words: ‘People should know that what a man can do a woman can do.’


As a global ambassador for the inanga, Nzayisenga provides audiences with the outstanding opportunity to become acquainted with the precious instrument and its sound.


Editors: Melchior Huurdeman, Aad van Nieuwkerk, Sakti Khedoe
Camera & lighting: Marijn Zurburg, Ramon de Boer, Marjolein Hoitinga
Sound: Philip ten Brink & Rens van Waterschoot
Producer: Jorinde Hiddema/Pippa Harris
Director/Editing Reinier Bruijne


This video was recorded at Bibliotheek Neude Utrecht 2023 for VPRO Vrije Geluiden: music program made by the Dutch public broadcast organization VPRO
full session: https://www.vpro.nl/vrije-geluiden/me...
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