Abahanzi Nyarwanda: Maniraruta Martin aka Mani Martin

The talented one is referred to as Maniraruta Martin but popularly known as Mani Martin is a song writer, singer of POP/R&B and film actor. He was born on the 24th of December 1988 in Rusizi district western province of Rwanda.

Mani Martin went to Ecole primaire de Ntura (Catholique) for primary education then Ecole Secondaire Gahunga Ruhengeri in the Northern Province and completed secondary education at Centre Islamique de Kigali in the department of languages.

His first song was called ‘Bari He’ which he did when he was just 9 years old but was never released. He did his first album of 12 trucks called ‘Agapfa kaburiwe ni Impongo’ when he was at 11 year old in the year 2000 then his next album of 14 trucks called ‘Umuntu ni iki’ released in 2001.

Mani Martin came to dorminate the airwaves from his song ‘Urukumbuzi’ which he released in 2005 and made him win an award as Rwandas artist of the year organised by Radio 10 together with Bralirwa which was worth us $800 equivalent to Rwfr500,000.

His first album ‘Isaha 9’ comprised of songs like Isaha 9, urukumbuzi, kumbu kumbu, urabeho,genzura, gitare cyanjye, narabohowe and many others.

His second album was called ‘icyo dupfana kiruta icyo dupfa’ which comprised of songs like icyo dupfana kiruta icyo dupfa, banza, urumuri, ibihe, baho, urukundo, bareke na bizashira and several others which was done in 2010.

After doing his second album that is when he changed to doing real life version of music other than gospel songs like wowe, mazi magari,nyibwirira, ni amateka, intero y’amahoro, ideni and all these will be in his third album called ‘Intero y’amahoro’.

Mani Martin is already in preparation of his fourth album which will comprise of Swahili and English songs. The album has songs done with traditional instruments of live music like Inanga, umuduri, ingiri, ingoma and many others.

Mani Martin have been able to win awards like PAMA Awards of 2007 where he was given a certificate of participation, he was in the Salax Awards of 2009 as the best male gospel artist, 2006 participated in FESPAD awards representing the young artists and again in FESPAD 2008 as the best male gospel artist and still in 2009 participated in FESPAD. Mani Martin in 2011 participated in Primus Guma Guma super star whereby he was among the most 10 liked music artists.

Mani Martin organized a concert in 2007 called Agahozo Christmas which was aimed at helping the opherned children in celebrating the festive season of Christmas and new years.

In 2011 he was among the selected people to escort the president of the republic of Rwanda his excellence Paul Kagame to France where they staged a performance.

Mani Martin was inspired to do music not as a family talent but as a blessing from God. He was inspired by artists like Cecile Kayirebwa and Jean Paul Samputu since they did traditional cultural music which is among his favorite style of music.

Internationally he is inspired by artists like R. Kelly, Ne-yo, and Brenda Fasi who influenced him to do R&B Pop music. Man Martin hopes to grow and develop his music to greater heights borrowing an example of these music artists whom he looks up to.

He has been fortunate to perform with artists like Lokua Kanza, Might Popo and many others.

Mani Martin featured in the film Long Coat (Ikoti Rirerire0) which had always been his long time dream. The film also featured celebrities like Edouard Bamporiki, Jimmy Gatete and Miss Shanel.

He was even nominated to participate in the Primus Guma Guma Superstar season 2 which he turned down because of the already tight schedules he is committed to like the concerts his is to perform soon and working on his fourth coming album.

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