UK-based Joy Roselyn Rukanzakanza, affectionately known in the arts sector as JoyRukanza has surpassed her entertaining role and gone a step further by addressing Gender based violence in her music.
With figures from Musasa Project, Adult Rape Clinic and the rest of the world showing a sharp increase in incidents of GBV during the Covid-19 necessitated lockdowns in 2020, the songbird was inspired to advocate for change through song.
Speaking to EarGROUND, she said the tribulations of women in her native country inspired her to use her voice for change, penning Queendom, the third single from her upcoming album “ Matter More for Sis”.
“This one is very special to me. “Queendom” is a departure from the usual soft melodies that I am known for, and in this record, I specifically echo sentiments that empower women and probes them to be the best version for themselves”, she said.
“I wrote the song after the slewed rise in gender-based violence cases which were recorded globally when the pandemic started and a lot of us were locked down. This project was extremely challenging yet rewarding”.
JoyRukanza unleashed her musical talent when she led her high school choir through regional competitions and she has never looked back. She has released three well-executed musical projects as well as an online live performance “The J Space Performance”.
Her first project “New Day” featured the South African multi-award-winning hip-hop sensation, KiD X and it has , received international acclaim and has more than fifty-seven thousand views on YouTube. Her follow-up single, “Roses”, premiered on BBC Music prior to its official release.
In December 2021, she directed and executive produced the first edition of the Forêt Tropicale experience, which a one-day forest themed music festival aimed at enhancing the growth of the Zimbabwean music industry through regional cultural exchange and the use of out-of-the-box offerings for the purposes of educating, entertaining, captivating, and informatively enriching the industry.The festival, which was hosted by ZiFM’s Lady K, saw performances from local acts including herself, Tanto Wavie, Suhn, Noluntu J, Ryan Synth and Mawiza.
Besides hee amazing talent musically , JoyRukanza is an astute academic. Upon earning a merit scholarship to study at Bryn Mawr College in the United States, she graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor’s degree in International Studies and an Africana Studies minor at the institution and subsequently started her career in Wall Street as a Technology Analyst in the asset management field.
Evidently an all rounded artist, the songstress displays a long history of learning, growth & upward trajectory in her expertise, knowledge, and experiences in the music industry and issues affecting the vulnerable and voiceless.
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