Renowned Rwandan gospel artists Vestine and Dorcas have announced that they are embarking on a new journey to share the messages of their songs in Swahili, beginning with the song “Iriba”.
As they revealed on their social media platforms, together with their manager Murindahabi Irene, they plan to start with their popular Kinyarwanda song, “Iriba,” by creating a Swahili version. This new version will be called “Kisima,” which also means “iriba,” and they have already shared a short snippet of its chorus in Swahili with their fans.
The original Kinyarwanda song “Iriba” was released on January 13, 2024, and has amassed over 11 million views on YouTube. The song’s main message centers on praising God for His power and the fulfillment of His promises in the life of the believer. Key lyrics include:
"Igihe cyari kibaye kinini ntegereje umwanzuro wa Nyiribihe... Imbaraga zawe, Uwiteka Mana yanjye zitumye nongera kuvoma ku iriba ry’amashimwe... Uri ubuhungiro kandi uri ubuturo, umubabaro wawuhinduye amashimwe."
["The time had grown long as I awaited the decision of the Almighty… Your strength, my Lord God, has allowed me to draw again from the well of praises… You are refuge and shelter, and you have turned my sorrow into praise."]
“Iriba” is one of Vestine and Dorcas’ most popular songs, having been viewed more than 11 million times over the past two years. This popularity influenced their decision to begin translating their songs into Swahili, allowing the message of gratitude, justice, and God’s love to reach fans outside Rwanda who may not understand Kinyarwanda.
Currently, Vestine and Dorcas have four songs available in Swahili: “Neema,” “Yebo,” “Emmanuel,” and “Usisite,” all of which have performed exceptionally well. Among them, “Yebo” has been viewed over 32 million times, while “Emmanuel” has exceeded 11 million views, showing that the artists continue to be loved in Swahili-speaking communities just as much as in Kinyarwanda.
This move comes after other Rwandan artists, such as Israel Mbonyi, previously succeeded with a similar approach. Mbonyi released the song “Nina Siri,” which became extremely popular and has now garnered over 89 million views.
He also released other Swahili tracks like “Nitaamini” and “Sikiliza,” both of which were widely successful. His approach of translating popular Kinyarwanda songs into Swahili, like “Nzi Ibyo Nibwira” into “Malengo ya Mungu” and “Tugumane” into “Kaa Nami”, has inspired other artists to follow suit.
On social media, Vestine, Dorcas, and Murindahabi Irene shared with their fans: “Hello! God’s Nation, we’ve a Swahili version – Kisima is coming… Be blessed.” (Matthew 16:19)
Rwandan gospel artists continue to reach international audiences, sharing uplifting messages through their music.
The journey of Vestine and Dorcas proves that innovation in worship music allows fans to experience fresh and meaningful content, while also providing a path to international audiences without abandoning their native language.
Watch the original song ‘Iriba’ in Kinyarwanda on YouTube.
