The end of Urban Boys legacy in Rwandan music  

It all started in 2007 in the Huye district when they were five. And then 10 years came with the difference that they remained two who are now dormant.

Apr 25, 2021 - 10:50
Apr 25, 2021 - 11:00
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The end of Urban Boys legacy in Rwandan music   
The end of Urban Boys legacy in Rwandan music   

Before departing, back then when they were a full squad, the founders of the group were: James Manzi(Humble Gizzo), Safi Niyibikora(Safi Madiba), Mohammed Nshimiyimana(Nizzo Kabosi).

Urban Boys as a music group first emerged in Huye district in 2007 where most of its members had several occupations because Nizzo at the time studied at SEFOTEK and Humble Gizzo studied in University of Rwanda (UR), former UNR and Safi Madiba used to seasonally live there as there was his family though the place of birth was Gitwe in Ruhango district. 

Before joining Urban Boys, Nizzo had the other singing group before meeting his mates Safi who had another singing mate, and Humble Gizzo in 2007 and then formed the group of five and named it Urban Boys.

The other two guys added to this group of three were: Rino G and Scotty. IKICARO was their first track as a group of five in 2007.

After only one year, in 2008, this group departed and two got out-group and remained only three: Safi, Humble, and Nizzo who held the rope and immediately composed “SINDI INDYARYA” as their first single as only three members which helped them to integrate with Kigali city that was considered a home of music at the moment where they reached in 2009 with a lot of competitors unlikely Huye.

It was not a piece of cake to relocate from Huye Kigali city. Huye was home which was hard for them to adapt to a new place with great competitors.

Being remained three in the group didn’t discourage them rather they pushed and worked day and night until they released six albums.

Among six albums, only the latest one “Adam na Eva” that they launched at homeland Huye district.

To be local wasn’t none of their dreams, they dreamt big and made it to their dreams of collaborating with some African icons in music where they started with Jackie Chandiru of Uganda. They also dropped Tayali with Nigerian’s Iyanya, Show me, love, with Timaya, Pete Kidole with Radio and Weasel, and Urankirigita with Sat-B.

 They have been on flights for countless days heading to performing abroad. Urban Boys performed on big stages with big names like Navio, Burnaboy, Awilo Longomba, Vanessa Mdee, Victoria Kimani, Radio and Weasel, Bebe Cool and Waje to name a few.

 Uganda, Burundi, and Kenya are the places they felt home performing due to the times they performed there, plus the East African Party as one of the greatest Parties we got in Rwanda, performing on big stages for them was no longer a news peg.

 By 2015, they also performed in Swiss and Belgium.

Hard work pains but pays, Urban Boys won different trophies as they participated in several competitions until they summed up 10 trophies within eight years working as three.

Let’s look together with their respective awards in different competitions from 2009-2016 as follow: 

2009: The best group of the year

2012: Best group of the year

       Artist of the year

       Best Male Artist of the year

Best video of the year

2013: Urban Boys participated in Primus Guma Guma Super Star, season 3, and won the second position.

2014:Urban Boys competed in Hipipo music awards in a category of East African Super Hit with their song Tayali

2014: Urban Boys participated in GIDI CULTURAL festival in which they performed in Nigeria.

2015: Urban Boys won the trophy of video of the month “Soroma Nsorome” in August.

2016: Urban Boys won Primus Guma Super Star, season 6.

Similar to other music groups, Urban Boys had an advisor too; he went by the name of 2Pac whom they started working together in 2008. He was responsible for their activities’ follow-up when they were still in Huye, after entering Kigali, they met Alex Muyoboke whom they signed a contract, in 2012. 

Only one year was enough for them to separate from their manager, Alex Muyoboke, as they separated on May 10th, 2013.

By 2012, the group launched THE SUPER LEVEL as their music label and later signed a contract with Richard Nsengumuremyi to be their advisor in 2014.

Unforgettable moments to Urban Boys 

There are unforgettable moments that this group had in their musical journey as they told us. Urban Boys will never forget the 2007 show Kunda Umuziki Nyarwanda that took place in Kigali in which it was very hard for them to perform when they came from Huye, they were about to miss the show unless the advocacy of those with names in music was made for them.

This hardship for their performance is one of the things that will never be forgotten in their history.

 

Apart from financial benefits, these artists gained different connections as they performed in different countries such as Swiss, Belgium, Burundi, Tanzania. etc.

This group at the moment it consists of only two members_ Nizzo and Humble Gizzo, who are not active.