Itahiwacu Bruce (born 3 March 1992), commonly known as Bruce Melodie aka Munyakazi is a Rwandan singer and a winner of Primus Guma Guma Super Star seasons 8 (PGGSS).[1][2][3]
Bruce Melodie | |
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Birth name | Itahiwacu Bruce |
Born | 3 March 1992 Kanombe, Kicukiro District, Rwanda | (age 32)
Genres | R&B, AfroPop, Afro beat, jazz |
Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, music executive, actor |
Instrument | Vocals |
Years active | 2011–present |
Spouse(s) | Catherine Umuhoza |
Website | instagram |
He is the Founder of Igitangaza Music record Label.[4][5] Bruce is also a brand ambassador of BK Arena and Primus.[6] He does his music under 1:55 AM label which was led by Coach Gael.[7] In October 2023 Bruce melody released a single "When she is around" featuring Jamaican[8] international hit maker "Shaggy"
History
editEarly years
editBruce Itahiwacu[9] was born in Kicukiro District. He is the second born in a family of four by "Gervain Ntibihangana (father) and Velene Muteteri (deceased in 2013).[10] Bruce attended Camp Kanombe primary school in Kanombe, Rwamagana Islamic secondary school.[11]
Musical career
editBruce is considered a Current Rwanda Musician Leader. He started singing at an early age in a church choir and released his debut song "Tubivemo" under the album called, Ndumiwe, in August 2013. His second album, Ntundize, was released in 2014. At that time, Bruce was managed under the "Super Level Music Label".[12][13] In February 2021, Bruce announced that he had signed with Cloud9 Entertainment[14] to manage his music career,[15] but in 2022 he terminated the contract with Lee and joined new management, 1:55AM Entertainment, headed by Gael Karomba AKA Coach Gael.[16]
Studio albums
editTitle | Details |
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Ndumiwe |
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Ntundize |
|
He has performed throughout Rwanda and in neighboring countries, including Uganda and has collaborated with numerous artists, including Urban Boyz, Queen Cha, Jay-C, Sheebah Karungi, Pallaso, B2C, Fik fameica[17] and Khaligraph Jones.[18] He named Craig David as his inspiration.[19] He was the first Rwandan artist to perform at Coke Studio (Africa)|Coke Studio Africa.[20] .In 2020 Bruce melodie raised Kenny Sol and Juno kizigenza. In 2023 he got featured in Harmonize's song called "Zanzibar".
Awards
editYear | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref |
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2014 | Salax Awards | Best RnB Artist | Bruce Melodie | Won | [21] |
2016 | Salax Awards | Best Male Artist | Bruce Melodie | Won | [22] |
2017 | HiPipo Awards | Song of the Year (Rwanda) | Turaberanye | Nominated | [23][24][25] |
2018 | Salax Awards | Best Artist | Bruce Melodie | Won | [26] |
2018 | PGGS8 | Best Artist | Bruce Melodie | Won | [27][28] |
2019 | Salax Awards | Best R & B Artist | Bruce Melodie | Won | [22][29] |
2019 | Salax Awards | Best male artist | Bruce Melodie | Won | [22] |
2019 | Kiss Summer Awards | Best Summer Artist | Bruce Melodie | Won | [30][31] |
2019 | HiPipo Awards | Song of the Year (Rwanda) | Embeera zo | Nominated | [32][33] |
2019 | HiPipo Awards | Video of the Year (Rwanda) | Blocka | Won | [34][35] |
2021 | The Choice Awards | Artist of the Year | Bruce Melodie | Won | [36] |
2021 | Kiss Summer Award 2021 | Best Summer Artist | Bruce Melodie | Won | [37] |
2023 | Trace Awards | Best Rwandan Artist | Bruce Melodie | Won | [38] |
Net worth
editBruce Melodie, in 2021, was preferred as one of Rwandan artists with financial stability. Bruce Melodie and his group launched a TV Station ISIBO TV (2020)[39] He also signed the greatest endorsement deal with BROK Company[40] of 50 millions Rwf. He has worked with local telecommunication companies (MTN,[41] Airtel[42]) through advertisement and has signed with infinix mobility[43] as its ambassador. He also signed a contract with Tecno mobile in 2021. He signed new contract with Kigali Arena which was valued at 150 millions of Rwandan francs and in 2021 he became a billionaire in Rwandan Francs by signing a contract of US$1 million $ with Food Bundles. He is among top 20 musicians from East Africa on the list of millionaires in USD.[citation needed]
Funga macho | |
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References
edit- ^ Africa, All (26 May 2017). "Rwanda: Word Has It...Bruce Melody Heads to Coke Studio Africa". Rwanda. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
- ^ Culture, Afri (17 March 2015). "Bruce Melody warns musicians on record deals". Africultures. Rwanda. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
- ^ "Bruce Melodie crowned PGGSS 8 winner". The New Times | Rwanda. 2018-07-15. Retrieved 2021-10-22.
- ^ "I Don't do Music for Money - Bruce Melody". 6 April 2020.
- ^ "WHO IS MR. MELODIE ?". Coke Studio. Kenya. 2 March 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
- ^ "Bruce Melodie signs Rwf 150 million deal with Kigali Arena as brand ambassador". The New Times | Rwanda. 2021-05-04. Retrieved 2021-10-22.
- ^ Jane, Ishimwe. "Umujyanama wa Bruce Melodie yashyize igorora abahanzi bagorwaga no gukorera ibitaramo muri America". Umuryango - Kinyarwanda. Retrieved 2023-01-29.
- ^ https://inyarwanda.com/inkuru/136237/bruce-melodie-yagaragaje-inyungu-amaze-gukura-mu-ndirimbo-na-shaggy-136237.html
- ^ Andrew, Shyaka (23 April 2020). "I Don't Do Music for Money – Bruce Melody". KT Press. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
- ^ "PGGSS5 contestant: I will sing till my last day on earth - Bruce Melodie". Rwanda. 2 July 2015. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
- ^ Kazibwe, Andrew (23 January 2015). "How Bruce Melody struck the right note". The East African. Rwanda. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
- ^ Babijja, Susan (26 April 2014). "Bruce Melody starts own band". New Times. Rwanda. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
- ^ Kagire, Edmund (23 August 2014). "Three stars to fight for Guma Guma title". The East African. Rwanda. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
- ^ "Will Ndayisaba be the man to take Rwandan music to the next level?". The New Times | Rwanda. 2021-02-18. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
- ^ "Bruce Melodie vows to 'conquer Africa' under new management". The New Times | Rwanda. 2021-02-16. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
- ^ Emmanuel Gatera (January 19, 2024). "It's a 'forever' deal, investor coach Gael on Bruce Melodie's partnership with UGB". The New Times. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
- ^ Reporter, News (24 April 2018). "Bruce Melodie speaks about his collabo with Sheebah". New Times. Rwanda. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
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has generic name (help) - ^ "Rwanda's Bruce Melodie to collaborate with Kenyan Rapper Khaligraph Jones". Nonaha. Rwanda. 10 August 2017. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
- ^ "PGGSS5 contestant: I will sing till my last day on earth - Bruce Melodie". The New Times | Rwanda. July 2, 2015.
- ^ "Coke Studio Africa - Artist - Bruce Melodie". coca-cola.co.ug. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
- ^ "Salax Awards ku nshuro ya gatandatu yitabiriwe n'abantu mbarwa". 28 March 2014. Archived from the original on 18 November 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
- ^ a b c "Salax Awards Rwanda 2019: All the winners". 1 April 2019.
- ^ "HiPipo Music Awards: Here's the full list of winners". 5 February 2017.
- ^ Kasadah, Badru (December 12, 2016). "Sheebah lands 11 nominations at HiPipo Music Awards".
- ^ "Bruce Melodie | HiPipo".
- ^ "Salax Awards: Winners in limbo as organisers fail to honour promises". The New Times | Rwanda. June 12, 2019.
- ^ "Salax Awards Rwanda 2019: All the winners". 1 April 2019.
- ^ "Bruce Melodie reveals secret behind winning Primus Guma Guma show". The New Times | Rwanda. July 21, 2018.
- ^ "Salax Awards ntiyitabiriwe cyane ugereranije na mbere". Kigali Today.
- ^ "Abegukanye ibihembo bya 'Kiss Summer Awards 2019' batangajwe-AMAFOTO". 28 October 2019.
- ^ "Bruce Melody niwe wegukanye igihembo cya 'Kiss Summer Award'". 28 October 2019.
- ^ Iranzi, Fabrice (March 19, 2019). "The final list of the HIPIPO Music Awards winners , 8th edition". RegionWeek.
- ^ "Nominees | HiPipo Music Awards | #WeTheBest #Africa".
- ^ "2019 HiPipo Music Awards Uganda: All the winners". 19 March 2019.
- ^ "Uganda Online - Winners of the Hipipo 2019 Awards". ugandaonline.net.
- ^ "Bruce Melodie, Meddy na Tom Close mu begukanye The Choice Awards; reba abatsinze bose".
- ^ "How the Kiss Summer Awards 2021 went down". 24 October 2021.
- ^ "Bruce Melodie on Being first Rwandan musician to win Trace Award - The New Times". 24 October 2021.
- ^ "Bruce Melodie and partner to launch Isibo TV". IGIHE. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
- ^ "Bruce Melodie Signs Rwf 50M Deal". KT PRESS. 2020-07-30. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
- ^ mtn. "Contact". MTN Rwanda. Archived from the original on 2019-09-05. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
- ^ "airtel Rwanda,airtel,my airtel,airtel data plan, airtel customer care, airtel contracts, airtel mobile money, Prepaid, Postpaid, Internet, Broadband, Blackberry Services, International Roaming, telecommunication in rwanda, International Call Rates, airtel Tariffs, Plans, airtel service,airtel phones,airtel website, airtel network, airtel customer care line". Airtel. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
- ^ "Rwanda". Infinix. Retrieved 2021-01-23.