For the past two years, Mama Niyori has made her mark in Rwandan cinema, starring in more than 83 films, including Nyambo’s “Ibanga,” works by Killaman, Kaliza wa Kalisa, and other productions that showcase her passion and dedication to her career in filmmaking.
Currently, she is competing in the 11th annual Mashariki African Film Festival under the “People’s Choice” category, where the winner will be awarded a brand-new car.
Mama Niyori shared with InyaRwanda that entering the cinema industry wasn’t an easy decision. She faced challenges such as working for minimal pay or even acting without compensation.
She said, “I didn’t tell my husband about it. It was a tough decision because, as you start out, the pay is minimal. Yes, I’ve acted in many films, but some haven’t even been released, and there were instances where I worked for free.”
Mama Niyori revealed that acting became her refuge for healing, even as she prepared herself for the possibility of separating from her husband if he didn’t support her dreams. Today, she is grateful for his support and understanding of her vision.
She said: "At that time, because of my emotions and the pain I carried, I just wanted to heal. I prepared myself for whatever my husband might say. Even if he had told me to leave him, I was ready to walk away, as long as I could find healing."
Mama Niyori explained that her personal pain stemmed from witnessing her father abandon her mother to pursue other relationships, despite his promise to commit.
She continued: "My father had many wives, but my mother was the one he had promised to stay with. She was the legal wife, while the others were on the side. My mother gave birth to my brother, and later she became pregnant with me. However, I was hesitant to be born. My mother carried me for seven years. Every time the pregnancy reached eight months, it would regress..."
During her time in cinema, she revealed how she used acting as a channel to express words she had never said to her father in person.
She said: “I used a reflective lens in my acting to talk to my father. I never told him heartfelt words to his face, regardless of where he is now. Through my roles, I spoke to him and even read to him. Everything I wanted to tell him in person, I expressed through film. Gradually, I healed. Whenever I was assigned roles requiring sadness, I incorporated my personal experience, and it helped me more than I could have imagined.”
Beyond her personal healing, Kagoyire has ambitious plans to create a film highlighting her mother’s resilience during pregnancy and the years that followed. She aims to emphasize the strength and perseverance of heroic women who fight for their families despite facing challenges.
Mama Niyori emphasized that cinema has been both a light and therapy for her soul, and that it represents the career path she wants to pursue for the rest of her life.
Mama Niyori shared how cinema helped her heal from the pain caused by her father’s abandonment.
Kagoyire Rebecca left a well-paying job to dedicate herself to cinema, a decision she made for her peace of mind.
After two years in cinema, Mama Niyori has acted in over 80 films, finding reassurance in her career path.
Mama Niyori explained how she used acting as a way to express the words she could never say to her father in person.
Mama Niyori is competing in the People’s Choice category at the Mashariki African Film Festival, where the winner will be awarded a car.
Mama Niyori aims to produce a film based on her mother’s resilience during adversity, celebrating the power of courageous women who fight for their families.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH OUR INTERVIEW WITH MAMA NIYORI