Veteran Rwandan singer Mariya Yohana is set to be honoured for more than 40 years of contribution to the country’s music industry at an event organised by Country Records on November 28, 2026, at Glimpse Hotel in Kigali.
The event will celebrate her role in shaping Rwandan music through songs promoting patriotism, unity and reconciliation.
It will also feature discussions aimed at helping emerging musicians learn from Yohana’s experience, reflect on her musical journey and draw lessons from her career.
Yohana is widely known for songs including Intsinzi and Inkotanyi z’Amarere, through which she has conveyed messages of patriotism to Rwandans.
In 2007, President Paul Kagame awarded her a medal in recognition of her contribution to the liberation struggle.
Other musicians, including Cécile Kayirebwa and Jean M. Vianney Muyango, have also highlighted Yohana’s contribution to Rwandan music, particularly her role in preserving traditional music and serving as a role model for artists across generations.
The planned event is part of broader efforts to recognise musicians who have helped shape Rwanda’s musical history and preserve their artistic legacy for present and future generations.
