Rwanda Sings With Strings (2025)

"Most of the album features acoustic guitar, hand percussion, and Kinyarwanda lyrics. However, the duo expands their signature sound with improvised string arrangements by cello and violin. The result is a hauntingly lyrical portrait of rural Rwandan life, marked by resilience, longing, and quiet defiance. Produced by Grammy-winner Ian Brennan, the album was recorded live without overdubs in a Washington, DC hotel room. Over a three-hour session, cellist, and violinist, who had never met or heard the material, joined guitarist and vocalist Adrien Kazigira and percussionist Janvier Havugimana to record 19 songs in single takes. There were no written scores or rehearsals. According to Brennan, the chemistry was immediate and transformative. The session fulfilled Kazigira’s long-held wish to hear his compositions supported by strings. As always, Havugimana contributes vocals and percussion using found materials such as plastic wrap, paper cups and old boots." (World Music Central)