Butera Knowless | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Jeanne d’Arc Ingabire Butera |
| Born | Ruhango |
| Origin | Rwanda |
| Genres | |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | 2011 - present |
| Labels | Kina Music |
| Spouse | Ishimwe Clement |
| Website | www |
Knowless (born Ingabire Butera) is a Rwandan singer and a winner of suruduwiri star seasons 5 (PGGSS). [1] Butera writes many of her own songs. Her songs touch on such themes as romantic relationships, societal issues and daily life. [2]
Jeanne d’Arc Ingabire Butera [3] was born in Ruhango District, and is the wife of Ishimwe Clement. She is the only child of Jean-Marie Vianney Butera and Marie Claire Uyambaje, who are both deceased. Her mother was the lead singer in a local Seventh-day Adventist church choir. Butera attended ESCAF primary school in Nyamirambo, APARUDE secondary school in Ruhango and APACE secondary school in Kigali with a focus on computer sciences and management. As a teenager she sang in the local choir. In 2012 she began to pursue a university degree at Kigali Institute of Science and Technology. [4] In 2019, she graduated with an MBA at the Oklahoma Christian University. She is a mother of two girls named Or & Inzora Butera.
Knowless released her debut album, Komeza, in December 2011. [4] Her second album, Uwo Ndiwe, was released in March 2013. [5] Knowless is managed under the label Kina Music. [6]
She has performed throughout Rwanda and in neighboring countries, including Uganda, [2] and has collaborated with Rwandans Danny, Mc Tino, Paccy, Ciney, Jay Polly, Kamichi and Urban Boyz, and the Ugandan group Vampos. She has named Belgium-based Rwandan musician Cecile Kayirebwa and American R&B singer-songwriter Brandy Norwood as her inspirations. [4] In 2021 she released an album called Inzora. [7]
Her husband is Clement and they have two daughters.
Knowless won "Best New Artiste" in the 2010 Salax Awards competition. [2] In August 2013, she took third place in the annual Primus Guma Guma Super Star talent competition, held at Amahoro Stadium. [8] In March 2013 she won her second Salax Award, this time in the category of "Best Female Artist". [5]
In 2013, Knowless was one of three Rwandan acts to perform at the "Rwanda Day" event held in London. [9] In 2015, Knowless Butera won the Primus Gumma Gumma Superstar 5th Edition, and she is the first woman to win such a competition. [10]