Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olivier Nduhungirehe, has called on the public, especially the youth, to stop constantly comparing singer The Ben with other artists.
The minister emphasized that The Ben is a highly accomplished and internationally recognized artist, making it unnecessary to place him in competition with others.
According to Nduhungirehe, the culture of comparing and pitting artists against one another does not contribute positively to the growth of Rwanda’s music industry.
“People should stop this habit of comparing and competing artists,” he said. “The Ben is a great artist and should not be compared to anyone else.”
He explained that music should not be treated like a sports competition where supporting one person requires undermining others. Instead, he encouraged music lovers to appreciate multiple artists at the same time, noting that such an attitude helps the entire industry to thrive.
Speaking through his X account, Minister Nduhungirehe; who is known for actively supporting Rwandan music, stressed that no artist truly defeats another. Rather, all artists win together by representing their country and serving their fans. He added that music creation requires immense effort and creativity, which deserves respect instead of unnecessary debates.
The minister also highlighted that in 2025, Bruce Melodie emerged as the most streamed Rwandan artist on Spotify, largely due to his song “Rosa.” The track appears on his album “Colorful Generation,” released in early 2025. Bruce Melodie reportedly purchased the song for approximately one million Rwandan francs.
Nduhungirehe’s message serves as a reminder that unity and appreciation within the music community are key to sustaining and growing Rwanda’s creative industry.
