Renowned musician Muchoma, who gained fame in 2015, has spoken out about the challenges facing artists in Rwanda’s event industry. He highlighted issues such as disagreements over payments and favoritism in performance selection, saying these factors have contributed to his reluctance to attend events.
Speaking to InyaRwanda, Muchoma stated: “Let me be honest with you, there is an issue of nepotism. There are certain artists who are constantly picked, even when they have no new songs to showcase, yet they continue to be among the select few who are always booked.”
He elaborated further: “Another problem is the extremely low payments offered. Personally, I cannot perform at an event where they tell me they’re paying me 1 or 1.5 million Rwandan Francs. I'm one of the most expensive artists, and I deserve to be compensated accordingly.”
Muchoma revealed that the fees promised by event organizers barely cover the production costs for one song, whether in terms of audio quality or video format. He has been vocal about this being a discouraging factor for artists working to create quality music.
Currently in Rwanda, Muchoma is focusing on strengthening his musical career and looking into investment opportunities. He recently dropped a new track titled “Uyu Mwaka,” which is garnering attention.
This latest release features Rufonsira, an acclaimed actor known for his roles in movies by Clapton Kibonge.
On local artists’ remuneration issues, Muchoma remarked: “It’s mind-boggling how foreign artists can come to Kigali and be paid significantly higher than local artists. That is unacceptable. Every artist deserves to be paid fairly based on their value.”
Muchoma expressed hope that event organizers will eventually recognize the true worth of local talent, vowing to continue pushing for better treatment. “If you don’t understand the payment I’m asking for, then wait until I grow further and take my career to the next level. Then you will have to accept my raised fees,” he added.
The artist emphasized the importance of valuing and appreciating local artists on par with their international counterparts. “Honestly, I am one of the high-profile artists. I cannot be lured into performing for meager fees. Artistry is a profession and it has its price,” Muchoma stated strongly.
Muchoma has carved a name for himself with his unique blend of Swahili and English music. His popular hits include “Sarah,” “Mademu Waleo,” “Sikutaki,” “Asante,” “My Love,” “Mtoto,” among others, cementing his place as a celebrated artist in the region.
Muchoma disclosed that he hasn’t performed live in the past decade due to the insufficient payments offered by event organizers.
He also expressed concerns about nepotism in selecting performers, citing that some artists are chosen despite not having recent music releases. This favoritism, he believes, undermines the industry’s potential to grow.
Muchoma vowed to keep producing music and striving for recognition until his value as an artist is honored. “I will continue to create impactful music until the industry appreciates my worth,” he concluded.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH OUR EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH MUCHOMA MUCHOMANI
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE MUSIC VIDEO OF MUCHOMA MUCHOMANI’S "UYU MWAKA"