Ayo Teerocks Calls for Significant Investments to Elevate Female Acts
Musician Toluhi Ayomide Opeyemi, known by her stage name Ayo Teerocks, has called for significant investments in the Nigerian music industry to elevate female acts to the level of international standards.
” With proper investments, a lot of talent would be unearthed in this country, we have the talents, basically some labels are only focusing on male acts.
Investors and Label owners need to also try female acts, we have a couple of female acts like Ayraa Starr, Darkoo and the rest doing so well globally, ” Ayo Teerocks said in an interview with this portal.
The Lagos born afro-pop singer believes diversity in the industry is essential, therefore reiterated her call for increased investments, which she believes will empower a new generation of talented female musicians to achieve global recognition.
Ayo Teerocks has released songs such as Sweet Loving, Gamble, and Private Part since her introduction in the Nigerian music industry in 2021.
Read MoreMama Rwanda Giving Hope to Vulnerable Mothers in Gasabo
The 1994 genocide against the Tutsi left the family fabric in tatters. Women were rendered widows and forced to take care of their surviving young children. Children, with their parents killed during the genocide, had nowhere to go but to survive on the streets as hopeless orphans. Families were torn apart, and the effect of that period is still being felt today, 24 years later.
However, despite the gloom, the resilience of Rwandans is captured in one progressive youth who has given hope to vulnerable mothers and their children in Gasabo district. Bertrand Ishimwe, 23, founded the Mama Rwanda project in 2016 to help underprivileged women engage in sustainable activities to help cater for the basic needs of their families.
The first batch of 25 mothers who had been learning tailoring skills at Irembo Organisation in Kacyiru since the inception of Mama Rwanda graduated in April 2017 with certificates. Two of them, Dianne Umwari and Hillary Mukeshimana, have already secured employment with UTEXRWA, a leading garment factory in Kigali, while one of the mothers has gone ahead to open up her own tailoring business.
Mama Rwanda is a project running under Irembo Organisation, which Ishimwe said he founded in 2015 to help a group of vulnerable children attend school without financial and material hitches. The idea to help the children was hatched while he was still in Senior Six at Lycee de Kigali.
The first batch of 45 children under the care of Irembo was mostly being supported by foreigners. “But I thought about what would happen if these foreigners decided to withhold their support or pulled out. What would I do with them? That’s how the idea Mama Rwanda was born,” says Ishimwe.
He says the Mama Rwanda project was founded to provide these single mothers with training to develop valuable skills to help support their families.
An accomplished visual artist who also cofounded Niyo Art Center with his older brother, Pacifique Niyonsenga, Ishimwe says the most of the funds (65%) to run the project comes from sales of his artwork, while a small portion comes from well wishers. Rwanda Youth Team of Irembo is a group of youth Ishimwe schooled with and the group also helps in soliciting funds.
Last year, Ishimwe says, he did 10 exhibitions abroad and almost all the money raised was ploughed back to running the project. In July, he had an exhibition at Knox Gallery, St. Lois City in Missouri while in August he had two exhibitions at St. Peters Art Cultural Center and Lily Nyan art galleries also in Missouri.
He adds the success story so far is that the mothers who have managed to graduate can now hope to take care of their families. “Even though Irembo has been taking care of the education needs of their children, the mothers now have the opportunity to help support these children through providing them with other basic needs. Our mission is to uplift the living standards of as many families as we can manage,” says Ishimwe.
Ishimwe notes that even though they started with only a group of 45 children, the number has since risen and now stands at 126 whom they help to pay school fees and purchase other materials like books and school uniform. He says 10 of them are this year proceeding to O’Level while one girl has completed her Senior 6 studies at Gisenyi Adventist Secondary School and successfully graduated.
Elyse Maria Dusabe, a 35-year-old widow and mother of four says, “I’ve lived a miserable life since my husband died 13 years ago. My mind was always preoccupied, thinking of how I’m going to deal with the future. My four children haven’t had an education to insure their future. It’s this sewing project that has thrown me a lifeline because I’ve acquired the skill to make me work for my family.”
Irembo Organisation also runs another project for the women called Agaseke Women Project – where unemployed women learn the necessary techniques to make traditional Rwandan baskets, mats and derivatives in order to produce good quality products which are sold.
Over 17 women are currently involved in this project and their products are exhibited at Irembo Shop in Kacyiru.
Ishimwe says they intend to recruit more mothers who are going to receive tailoring training this year, and they also hope to open a shop where the mothers can display and sell their products.
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Spending Valentine Day with a family
Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite holidays because it celebrates the purpose of life. No, not chocolate, LOVE! We all need to be cherished. But despite our good intentions, too often we forget to tell the people we love just how precious they are to us. Valentines Day can be a wonderful opportunity to remind all of our loved ones (not only our sweethearts) how glad we are that they’re in our lives. Want some ideas to celebrate Valentine’s Day, when you’re too busy, too broke, and maybe even too harried to remember that you really adore these people you live with?
Rethink Gifts.
Valentines Gifts are NEVER about the item or product. That teaches all the wrong lessons about love. Make this about the heart-to-heart expressions that build intimacy and connection. That means handmade cards, extra loving time together, or massages, not purchased gifts. If you must buy a gift, choose it using the GIFT test: does it create more Gratitude, Intimacy, Fondness, and Trust between you, or does it just impress? In other words, a bottle of inexpensive champagne, some sandwiches, and an invitation to a massage and picnic supper in bed after the kids are asleep meets this test a lot better than jewelry or candy. For kids or adults, try one of the gift ideas below.
Alternate gift ideas:
A Letter of Appreciation.
The best gift of all is always a simple letter to your loved ones detailing how grateful you are to have them in your life. Be as specific as possible; “the way you let me sleep in the morning while you make the kids breakfast” and “the way you sing off-key” are even more satisfying than “You’re lovable,” because the recipient feels seen and appreciated. Don’t worry if it isn’t eloquent. Any heartfelt love letter will be cherished by the recipient much more than a store-bought gift. This isn’t only for your partner; kids feel loved when we notice who they are and what they contribute to us, our family, and the world. Your kids will reread your letters during tough times. They’ll save them for the rest of their lives.
Homemade Valentines. Kids feel loved when we spend time making something for them, rather than buying it. Why not make Valentine? This can be as simple as 15 minutes with red construction paper, scissors, and magic markers or as elaborate as a joyful, creative family project for three hours. Need inspiration? There are websites galore. But I usually stick to the simplest: construction paper hearts with a heartfelt message detailing something you appreciate about the recipient.
Make the dinner mood festive with a short family dance party
Make the dinner mood festive with a short family dance party before dinner. Don’t forget the romantic slow dance for the grown-ups! After the dancing, eat with candles on the table.
Spread the love.
Before Valentines Day, invite your kids’ friends to make Valentines. Good music (theirs), delicious snacks (your job), and a digital or instant camera (“Here’s a picture of me making your valentine”) seem to provide enough cool context for teens and even younger teens to let themselves enjoy this project. In fact, inviting friends always seems to double the fun, whatever their age.
How about a telephone valentine chain?
Call someone dear to your family and pass the phone around to take turns telling this person you love them. Then ask that person to “Pass it forward” by calling someone they love, asking that person to call another, etc.
Surround yourself with love.
This is the day for your Love Song playlist. Skip the heartbroken ones and go straight for celebration, all day long!
Love in Practice.
If you’d like your kids to take pride in making the world a better place, Valentine’s Day is a great opportunity to express love for others by taking valentines goodies or homemade valentines to a nursing home, hospital, or soup kitchen. However you decide to celebrate, I hope February 14 brings more love into your life. Happy Valentines Day!
A Guide to Valentine’s day in Rwanda
Romantic ideas to blow your love awa
By Ngabirwe Emmanuel
Very soon it will be Valentine’s Day. The streets will be filled with couples in red and black ensembles, or others dressed to the nines, headed for an evening of staring soulfully into each other’s eyes over candlelight at some fancy establishment. Because we love Love, here are some ideas for things you can do to make this coming Valentine’s Day even more special for you and your boo.
Delight her with Chocolate: What is Valentine’s Day without chocolate? Take her for a chocolate treat at one of the many cafes in Kigali- Brioche, Shokola, Papyrus Bakery, RZ Manna, and Palador Venceremos all do a mean chocolate treat.
Go shopping: Whichever of you does this less often, now is your turn. Take him (or her) shopping for a change. All the main shopping malls normally have some special Valentine’s Day sales. Raid Nakumatt, Woodlands Superstore, or Simba Supermarket and spoil your significant other by having them pick out anything they want on your tab.
Getaway: It’s a good thing the next February 14 will be a Saturday. Leave Kigali, go out into the country, or into some of the smaller towns outside of the capital, and enjoy a tranquil weekend in the virgin countryside, with pure air and the gentle sounds of water or birds or lowing cows around you. A place with water would be nice- think Gisenyi (if you want lively beaches) or Kibuye (it is more serene and untouched). A day-long visit to Akagera National Park would give you something exciting to do together, and to crown a perfect day, you could spend the night in the magnificently intimate Ruzizi Tented Lodge.
Commission an art piece: If you are one for grand gestures, here is one for you. Why not commission a painting of your boo this Valentine’s? There are so many talented artists and art studios in Kigali- Inema, Ivuka, Yego, Uburanga- are just a few of many. Go visit one of them in advance and talk to the artists about it. They might ask for a photograph to paint from; or even better, you could do it the old-fashioned way and have your lover sit for the painting. Then buy them the painting as a keepsake. The memory of Valentine’s day spent sitting for a painting is one you will share for life- no matter how the painting itself turns out.
Go horse-riding: We have all dreamt of riding those magnificent beasts. C’mon, admit it! Now Valentine’s Day would be the perfect day to try it out. Whether you can ride or not, visit one of the equestrian centers in Kigali with your love and take a gallop on one of their well-bred horses. Fazenda Sengha, located atop Mt. Kigali, is ideal. For learners, they offer private instructions in the arena as well as trail rides through the surrounding hills of Mt. Kigali. Rugende Training Center, just past Kabuga is also another good option. They also offer horse riding lessons for beginners and have a great garden where the two of you can sit back and enjoy a quiet afternoon together.
Take a walk: The lovers’ walk is as old as love itself, and Kigali is a great place to take a stroll. The sight of two love birds walking, hand-in-hand towards the sunset is poignant and nostalgic, bringing back memories of the innocence of teenage love. Rediscover the effortless intimacy of walking with that special someone by taking a slow evening promenade through the quieter parts of Kigali. The back streets of Kimihurura, Kacyiru, Nyarutarama, and Kiyovu are perfect for strolling at any time of day. They are serene, with relatively little activity, and the tall trees and/or greenery all around provide a shade and a cool breeze for you and your love.
Finally, this is a kind of Valentine’s Day tradition. We won’t be the ones to chuck tradition, so lastly:
The romantic Valentine’s dinner: Nothing makes a woman feel so special, as dressing up elaborately for an evening out with her man. And nothing makes a man feel as masculine as taking his woman out to a fancy place for a good meal, an evening of laughter, and some intimate conversation. Some nice, classy places to go are the Kigali Serena, Hotel des Mille Collines or Grand Legacy Hotel. If you want something more intimate, try l’Epicurien with its great ambiance or Crystal Bar and Lounge (Top Tower) with its unmatched view of Kigali. Brachetto restaurant in Kacyiru and Sakae Chinese Restaurant in Nyarutarama are also good choices for their mouth-watering cooking and intimate setup.
Read MoreBorn In Rwanda
CityBlue Hotels: Africa’s fastest-growing hotel chain
It is amazing to think that CityBlue Hotels has only been around since the start of 2013, given the impact the chain has had in the past 18 months across East Africa. Three hotels in Rwanda and one in Uganda have opened in barely a year and a half, and there are plans to set up many more across the entire African continent. The brand is so well recognized now that in Kigali, just ask anyone about CityBlue and they will reply by saying: “Which one? There are three.”
And yet, the idea behind CityBlue Hotels was simply born out of the founder’s frustration at finding a decent hotel to stay, anywhere in East Africa, at a fair price. After doing planning and preparation work for several years, the style-conscious CityBlue Hotels were born, with a focus on providing comfortable, technology-driven bedrooms at reasonable prices- or as their motto says, “5-star locations, 3-star prices”.
CityBlue Hotels represents the new age of hospitality, suited for the modern-day traveler whose key comforts are free WI-FI (and CityBlue plans to be the first regional hotel group to upgrade its already world-class internet to 4G), flat-screen TVs, brilliant beds, excellent food and drink offerings and wonderfully hospitable staff.
While most of CityBlue’s clients tend to be business people, there is an eclectic mix of holiday-makers, gorilla-trekkers, corporates, NGO staff, and traders also. The sign of CityBlue’s successful formula can be seen in its excellent rankings of hotels on TripAdvisor as well as its website, created with the tech-savvy traveler in mind. Bookings can be made directly onwww.citybluehotels.com, even using smartphones! No wonder the group has a full-time Chief Technology Officer!
CityBlue Hotels has three genres of hotel: Urban by CityBlue, the premium quality hotel; Express by CityBlue, the limited-service hotel with great comfort; and the generic CityBlue Hotel. All three are represented in Rwanda.
Urban by CityBlue, Kigali – located on Rue des Parcs, Kiyovu
Urban by CityBlue in Kigali has become well known for its marvelous restaurant, The Bistro, on the rooftop with the most outstanding view of Kigali, sumptuous food, and a distinctly high-end ambiance. This boutique hotel also has a selection of executive and standard bedrooms on par with any 5-star offering in the region, a 30-person conference room, and a new bar called SKY LOUNGE which has recently taken Kigali by storm. Visit the hotel at any time and you will enjoy its soothing feeling on entry, its buzzing atmosphere on the roof, and its incredible view. Enjoy a glass of champagne while the sun sets and know that you are also at Rwanda’s only hotel nominated for the World Luxury Hotel Awards 2014.
Express by CityBlue, Kigali – located next to the Residence of the Ambassador of Tanzania
Express by CityBlue in Kigali has become well known for its comfort, service, subtle beauty, and incredible mattresses that promise a perfect night’s sleep! This boutique hotel also has a wonderfully cute restaurant known as Café Bleu, which offers a selection of dishes from every continent. Every room has been meticulously designed to provide wardrobe space, ironing facilities, tea and coffee makers, and all the amenities. The key with Express is the price: at a fraction of the cost of a night at Urban, clients receive the same warm welcome and an equally comfortable bedroom. What more could one ask for?
CityBlue Hotel, Embassy Row, Kigali – located on Boulevard de L’Umuganda
This CityBlue Hotel in Kigali is located on what’s arguably the city’s most important street, with all the major embassies starting with the American Embassy at one end and ending with the UK High Commission on the other. Everyone knows this CityBlue: it has a magnificent garden, a superb restaurant called Harry’s known for its famous weekday buffet, its selections of wines and beers and its flat-screen TVs showing all the sports channels. Again, this CityBlue Hotel appeals to all types: the business people, the diplomats, the NGO crowd, the travelers, the sports enthusiasts, and the beer garden junkies!
For reservations at any of CityBlue hotels, please call +250 78 78 11111 or +250 78 78 22222 or email reservations.rw@citybluehotels.com.
Read MoreRemembering the Genocide against the Tutsi
Twenty years ago, over a space of 100 days, Rwanda was engulfed in a senseless massacre as more than one million innocent Rwandan lives were snuffed out in the heinous Genocide against the Tutsi. Starting January this year and culminating on the 7th of April, 2014, Rwandans will commemorate the twentieth year since that tragic period in its history.
Why not do something different on your tour this year and stand with Rwandans as we honor the innocent lives that were snuffed out in the tragic 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi? It is an important occasion to remember the lives that were lost, show solidarity with survivors, and unite to ensure it never happens again – in Rwanda or elsewhere.
Now, commemorating a tragic event may not sound like your typical idea of ways to spend your time while you are on tour, but sometimes there is no better way to express our human solidarity with our brothers and sisters than to join them in mourning their loss and, even better, celebrating their remarkable recovery from one of the greatest disasters of the 20th century. Because that is what this year’s commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi is all about: remembering those who died; uniting through reconciliation and renewing and transforming Rwanda and the world by sharing experiences.
This year’s commemoration is dubbed Kwibuka20. Kwibuka means ‘remember’ in Kinyarwanda, Rwanda’s language, and is used to describe the annual commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. It is also a chance to learn about Rwanda’s story of reconciliation and nation-building. How you can participate A series of events will mark the twentieth commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
You can join the Flame of Remembrance tour that started a countrywide tour on the 7th January 2014 and will end on 7th April at Gisozi Genocide memorial; or you can participate in one of the international events such as Global Umuganda or Walk to Remember, watch ceremonies and conferences as they are streamed live through the Kwibuka website. At the same time, international conversations about genocide will take place in Kigali, New York, London, Addis Ababa, and Washington DC.
Finally, you can also participate in the online One million Voices campaign and share your thoughts on Kwibuka20 under the theme “Remember-Unite-Renew”
Traveling the world need not be limited to having fun and adventure. Sometimes the best thing for you may be to have a truly transforming life experience. And few can beat the bond that comes from having a truly human experience with fellow human beings thousands of miles away from home.
For more information on how you can participate in Kwibuka20, please visit
http://www.kwibuka.rw/ or http://cnlg.gov.rw/
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Hearing Loss: Are You listening? Well hear this!
Although its prevalence in Uganda is not accurately known, hearing loss can have a devastating impact on the lives of those that are affected. The World Health Organisation has stated that hearing impairment is the most frequent sensory deficit in human populations, affecting more than an estimated 250 million people in the world, and middle ear infections rate as the most common form of childhood illness. One of the reasons hearing loss may be more common than you think is that it is a hidden impairment and often one which is undiagnosed or misunderstood. Children with hearing loss are routinely assumed to be lacking in intelligence, concentration, or
application as they appear to be distracted, ignorant, or disobedient. Adults with hearing loss might be considered rude or foolish when they don’t respond as others think they should.
So what causes hearing loss?
Some causes of hearing loss include: aging, family history of hearing loss, untreated ear infections particularly in childhood, ear canal wax blockage, meningitis, measles, malaria, other childhood illnesses, ear-damaging medications, lack of oxygen at birth, head and neck abnormalities or injuries and exposure to loud noise.
And the consequences?
Hearing impairment in children can have many lasting effects including issues in speech and language acquisition as well as mental, emotional, and social development. Consequently, this can limit opportunities in education, employment, and financial security. Adults with hearing loss find it difficult socially to participate in conversations and may need to guess at what is being said, often being embarrassed when they are mistaken. It is therefore important to do everything possible to prevent hearing loss and to provide treatment and
rehabilitation when required to reduce the impact of any hearing disability.
Ways to prevent hearing loss and reduce its impact Avoid situations where there is excessive noise and wear ear protection when using high-powered tools, lawnmowers, and other machinery. Do not put anything in your ear, even cotton buds, as you can dislodge ear wax further into the ear canal causing discomfort and complications. It is advisable to seek medical treatment for any signs of ear infection, discharge, or pain.
Having children vaccinated against childhood illnesses will ensure a healthier child and prevent the need for strong medicines to treat illnesses, which may cause damage to their hearing.
Treatment
Some causes of hearing loss are treatable with medication or surgery, so require medical intervention. These temporary issues need to be dealt with before permanent hearing loss can be addressed with amplifying devices such as hearing aids.
Rehabilitation
Many people with hearing loss can be successfully fitted with hearing aids to amplify sounds in their environment. This gives them better access to conversational speech and allows them to be better connected with the world around them. When a person with hearing loss wears hearing aids, it does not actually make their hearing ‘normal’ and often they still need assistance to hear clearly, but it does make it possible to hear much better. Like other electronic devices, the technology of hearing aids has advanced significantly other the last ten years. Advanced hearing aids with up-to-date technology are now becoming available across Africa including Malawi.
So how do I know if there is a problem?
One way to test your own hearing is to ask a family member or friend whether they notice you experiencing difficulty hearing. Often others notice a hearing loss before you do, so consider the following:
First Signs of Hearing loss
• Asking people to repeat themselves
• Needing to have the TV volume up louder than is comfortable for others
• Difficulty hearing clearly on the telephone
• Difficulties understanding others if they are not facing you (E.g. in the car)
• Confusion of words in group situations or where there is background noise, such as when in a restaurant or at a family gathering
• Decrease in confidence or desire to socialize with others How can you help someone who has a hearing loss
• Look at the person when you are talking to them
• Say the person’s name first to get their attention before starting to speak
• Do not shout, speak clearly and only a little more slowly
• Reduce background noise at much as possible
• Encourage them to seek medical help
• Maximise the lighting so the face is visible
For further advice on hearing, issues consult your medical practitioner, audiologist, or Ear Nose Throat Specialist
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Msaada Development Agency
The Msaada development agency was established in England in 2005 to help the people of Rwanda to restore their dignity and their livelihoods that were destroyed during the horrific genocide in 1994 by establishing self-help income-generating projects. It funds agricultural projects that assist widows and orphans of the genocide to become self-sufficient. Msaada supports profit-making projects run by the Rwandans themselves, that fund a range of physical and psychological care and legal advice to widows and orphans still suffering from injustice and trauma after the dreadful events of 1994, and, primary, secondary, vocational, and university education for children who were orphaned by the genocide and who have no means of support.
Msaada involves the people themselves in solving their own problems and is guided by their capacity, skills, experience, and vision. Msaada enables families to make their own decisions on rebuilding their lives and in their fight for justice and against crushing poverty. Through Msaada’s school’s exchange program, they encourage understanding and co-operation between the youth of the UK and Rwanda, as well as raising awareness among communities in the UK of the evils of genocide and how they can assist those who have suffered it to overcome the dreadful consequences.
Msaada works with local organizations, AVEGA, a self-help widows’ and orphans’ association, and SURF, the Survivors’ Fund. Msaada’s Projects include The Subiruseke Vocational Training Centre. The charity funds the school to rehabilitate four widows’ homes each year that are in a poor condition. The trainees gain invaluable practical building experience. Msaada has also funded a youth recreational center at the school.
Msaada supports over 70 students with bursaries to attend The Excel Bilingual School, a local initiative, started by parents and teachers, to provide quality education with the emphasis on a high standard of English and French, to all the children of the Kigabiro Sector, without reference to ethnicity. Msaada is assisting over 100 young people to attend local state primary and secondary school. Msaada has paid for the construction of a science laboratory at Rwamagana Secondary School to improve the quality of education available to students there. The laboratory, while basic by Western standards, is the most modern facility of its kind in Rwandan schools. Msaada has also paid for audiovisual equipment at the school to enhance the educational experience.
Msaada assists with the running of a computer training center for young people to improve their computing skills at AVEGA Est. The Count D’Angerville Honeybee Project provides some 60 families in Nyarabuye with beehives to enable them to earn an income from the production of honey and wax. The project provides families with modern high-yielding hives which produce some 35kg of honey a year each. As well as providing
vitally important income, the bees also pollinate surrounding plants and crops increasing the yield for the entire community. Following the genocide, thousands of elderly people were left without any family, with horrific injuries, and unable to fend for themselves. Following heartrending pleas from AVEGA, Msaada agreed to provide the funds to sustain a number of these elderly disabled.
What people are saying about Msaada:
“I commend you on the outstanding work being done by Msaada. It may seem a drop in the ocean in a situation where there is great need but to those who benefit, your help is a Godsend.”– Archbishop Desmond Tutu
“Msaada’s extraordinary work is bringing a life-force of hope and stability to one of the most damaged societies on Earth. I give them all my admiration and support.” – Joanna Lumley, Actress
“We who care about what happened in Rwanda in 1994 owe it to those unfortunate people to let them know that some of us are willing to share their pain and to do something meaningful to help address it.” – Fergal Keane, Msaada founder
For more information, please contact:-
Msaada Development Agency
Website: www.msaada.org
Clubs and Societies in Rwanda
Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund (DFGF),
Box. 2411 Kigali Tel:+250 511032.
Wildlife Conservation Society, (WCS),
Tel:+250 520810/11.