Kazuba Sybille

Kazuba Sybille
Singer, Film director, Song writer/composer
Principal country concerned : Column : Music, Cinema/tv, Photo, Fashion, Media

KAZUBA
(Sybille CISHAHAYO)



THE ARTIST

With sweet eyes and a tender smile, this young and graceful Burundian singer called Sybille Cishahayo and nicknamed "KAZUBA" (Kazuba means sweet sun) by her close relations, is the symbol of hope in the Burundian tradition.

Born on December 31, 1981 in Bujumbura, Burundi's capital, she grows up in several provinces of the country. She has always been living in a multi ethnic, multi cultural and multi linguistic environment. In urban and rural areas, in cities and districts, she discovers the beauty of landscapes and the rich traditions, thus opening her mind to the world and its diversity.

When she is 11, she starts participating in singing and musical creation competitions organized between primary schools. The little girl quickly gets to like singing and writing.
Her poetess talents are rapidly recognized and from secondary school, she wins several poetry competitions organized by secondary schools, in collaboration with different international organizations such as SAVE THE CHILDREN and the EUROPEAN UNION among others.

In 2002, she is noticed by a local NGO (MENYA Média) that wants to implement an awareness campaign on AIDS through music.
This is how she becomes a member of Kawa's band, made of three girls and three boys. A bit shy at the beginning, she rapidly becomes an important member of the band. She gets more and more involved in the band, participating to the writing of songs, to new melodies search, to choreographic arrangements. Naturally, she becomes the band's representative and participates in several TV and radio shows where she defends the efficiency of conveying messages through music, particularly when talking about sensitive issues like Aids.

KAZUBA'S MUSIC
She sings in Kirundi, Swahili, French and English and writes her own texts and melodies.

She takes her inspiration from life's subjects such as love, the respect of others, woman's position in the society, reconciliation between Burundian, Burundian traditional values.

Her creations vary from traditional to modern, with typical rhythms and melodies from Burundi, sometimes singsong and strong.

Kazuba's voice is warm and emphasizes the way she moves her hips on stage.

DISCOGRAPHY
In 2000, she records her first album in solo with five very famous songs. She took her inspiration from the context of war.

In 2002, she collaborates with KAIVA'S band for the achievement of an album of 12 tracks.

In 2004, she prepares her second solo album "AKAZUBA", made of 10 tracks.

In 2006, Kazuba launches her third album, "INDOTO" meaning "DREAMS", made of 8 songs.

IMPORTANT SHOWS
In February 2002, KAZUBA is the first to sing at the concert organized by the French Cultural Centre, on the occasion of the African tour of the Senegalese band POSITIVE BLACK SOUL.

In March 2002, she is the first to sing at NGABA LEONCE's concert, a famous Burundian artist living in Canada, in the presence of the President of the Republic of Burundi.

In October 2004, KAZUBA takes part in the feminine festival in Mozambique. She represented Burundi at this important meeting talking about "the role of women artists in Africa's rebuilding".

In February 2005, she participates in the African solidarity festival organized by the French Cultural Centre in Bujumbura. Several east African countries were represented.

In November 2005, she takes part in a show dedicated to Burundian women nominated for the Peace Nobel Prize. At the same time, she sings in a show organized by IFES, an American organism that used to lead actions dedicated to the peace process in Burundi.

In December 2005, she sings in a show organized by MSF (Médecins Sans Frontières) on the occasion of the reflection day on violence against women.

In June 2006, KAZUBA participates in a festival with the theme "culture helping development", under the patronage of the President of the Republic of Burundi.

In August 2006, she takes part in FESPAD (pan African dance festival) in Kigali, Rwanda.

In December 2006, East African TV Channel 5 shoots a biography of KAZUBU in Burundi. Her environment and life are widely described, interviews with other artists are realized and people's feelings about her are presented. Those shows are broadcasted several times from January on EATV5.

EAST 5 also produces a programme with KAZUBA on the "VISION POUR DEMAIN" (vision for tomorrow) competition, organized by RTNB (National Radio Television in Burundi).

Videos and interviews are widely played on the Rwandese National TV in January and February 2007.

Lots of radio and TV shows are realized in studio and on location by Ugandans radios and channels, such as RECORD TV, UBC, IVBS. They are broadcasted the first months of 2007.



PICTURES
KAZUBA and journalists from RECORD TV, a Ugandan TV, in November 2006

KAZUBA on stage during a concert with a band of South African singers. Bujumbura, 2004

Sybille with LOKWA KANZA, Bujumbura, 2006

Sybille and EAST AFRICAN TV journalists. Bujumbura, 2006

On tour with KAWAS band. Kamenghe, Bujumbura, 2002

On tour with KAWAS band. Bujumbura, Central market Place, 2002

On stage with the same band, Bujumbura, Mus2e vivant, 2002

She is the first to sing at POSITIVE BLACK SOUL concert

With POSITIVE BLACK SOUL singers

Kazuba: international woman day

Sybille: concert in Cibitoke. Bujumbura. International woman day

Sybille: concert dedicated to Burundian women nominated for the Peace Nobel Prize, 2005

Private concerts in 2005 and 2006

Concert with MENYA Media Association. Theme: fight against HIV/Aids

Sybille: tour in Mozambique, 2004

Sybille: concert in Maputo, Mozambique

Sybille: participation in the feminine festival as part of the position of women in conflicts'resolution

Sybille: Wajinga promotion 2006-2007

Sybille in a concert at the French Cultural Centre, Bujumbura 2005

Kazuba: National Theatre, Kampala, February 2007

Kazuba: private concert at "STEAK OUT", Kampala, March 2007

Partners

  • Arterial network
  • Media, Sports and Entertainment Group (MSE)
  • Gens de la Caraïbe
  • Groupe 30 Afrique
  • Alliance Française VANUATU
  • PACIFIC ARTS ALLIANCE
  • FURTHER ARTS
  • Zimbabwe : Culture Fund Of Zimbabwe Trust
  • RDC : Groupe TACCEMS
  • Rwanda : Positive Production
  • Togo : Kadam Kadam
  • Niger : ONG Culture Art Humanité
  • Collectif 2004 Images
  • Africultures Burkina-Faso
  • Bénincultures / Editions Plurielles
  • Africiné
  • Afrilivres

With the support of