British female, Bee Rosen, who sings in Kinyarwanda, speaks with InyaRwanda again

Bee Rosen, British female, who speaks and sings in Kinyarwanda language has spoken with InyaRwanda again following her most recent conversation in December 2020. This female although she speaks and sings in Kinyarwanda language, she has never been in Rwanda, even once, but she is still hoping to visit at some point in life. 

She learned speaking and singing in Kinyarwanda language from her father who lived in Rwanda and returned back to the UK with Rwandan friends, then friends of her father taught her Kinyarwanda language, not only this but also, she lived in diaspora from where she met with Rwandan nationals who befriended her and helped her improve on her Kinyarwanda language skills so that she could sing and speak in Kinyarwanda. 

In correspondences with InyaRwanda, she has once again mentioned that she truly like Rwandan music and is proud of singing Rwandan music. 

Recently, InyaRwanda learned that she featured on radio and decided to inquire her more about her featuring on air and what she has been up to focusing on her music career. Below are her correspondences with InyaRwanda. 

Q₁: When did you play our music on BBC? 

I featured on BBC Radio Norfolk and BBC Radio Suffolk on Friday afternoon for their Community Playlist (7-8pm 21/04/23).  Here, I discussed my upcoming book (Reflections On The Decline Of Belief In Science) which is a parallel to my ancestor Charles Babbage’s works in 1830.  We also discussed my love of world music and classical music.  I also discussed my climbing history and the records I hold (I climbed three mountains which had never been climbed by a visually impaired person - they were all over 8,000ft).

During this time, I took the audience on a journey to discover music they may not have heard before.

Q₂: Tell us a little bit on your journey in Journalism. Were you at BBC as a journalist or a musician?

I was there as an author, climber and musician.  I wanted the listeners to learn more about music from other countries, which is something I feel passionate about.  I shared music from the following countries;

Rwanda, Ethiopia, Kenya, Philippines, India, United Arab Emirates, Switzerland, France, Nigeria and Ghana.

Q₃: What is your major at University?

When I was a student, I studied Veterinary Medicine and Surgery.  I had the honour of working with world-renowned surgeons and researchers at the Animal Health Trust Animal Hospital for six years in between my general studies.  I also spent time near Port Elizabeth, South Africa studying conservation and Veterinary Medicine in a wildlife setting.  I left this career path behind due to my visual impairment.

Q₄: You played Rwandese songs, tell us those songs and why were your choice? Do you know those artists?

I played Phil Emon’s ‘I’m Good’ because my friends were enjoying the song and it was stuck in my head too!  His music has a truly joyful and serene quality.

Q₅: Why Deborah is in love with Rwandan music?

I love Rwandan music because I grew up living with Rwandans for a short time as a child (they stayed with us because my father was supporting them for a time) and then as I got older, I met more and more Rwandese friends from the diaspora.  My father was in Rwanda after the genocide as a dental surgeon and he also arranged for Congolese/Rwandese widows in Gitarama to have their own milling machines to help them start their own businesses.  

He was worried about them having to sweep the streets with babies strapped to their backs.  My father never asked for anything return.  My father was the one who took me to South Africa as part of my own medical studies.  He always raised me to uplift, remember and support Rwanda (particularly Rwandan Diaspora in England).  As a result, I have grown to love Rwandese music and I try to remember Rwanda when I do Radio shows and other similar things.

Q₆: According to BBC audience, why people in England are loving our music?

More than ever, people in England are interested in music from Africa and Asia.  There’s excitement about music from far away.  A lot of music in England is very similar in nature and genre.  Music from Rwanda brings something new and music from Africa as a whole has become a source of intrigue.  The response from other people at the BBC was that Phil Emon’s song was very good!

Q₇: Lastly, when are you coming to visit us and meet your beloved artists?

I look forward to visiting Rwanda at some point, naturally my book must be completed and marketed in England so I have to stay here and work very hard this year.  Nonetheless, my thoughts and my support are still with all African diaspora in the UK.

[END]

Bee Rosen is a British female who sings and admires Rwandan music. Her Kinyarwanda language got from her father who lived in Rwanda and upon his return, he went back with friends from Rwanda, these friends and her father are the ones who taught her Kinyarwanda language, in addition to this, she travelled abroad and met with Rwandan nationals who helped getting better at Kinyarwanda language. Her most favorite songs include “Carolina” of Meddy, “Ngirente” of Amalon, and “Ifarasi” of Davis D.

Bee Rosen who admires and sings in Kinyarwanda language

British female who wishes to visit the country at some point in life

Listen to her