Issue Three - TheZoom Magazine

EDITOR’S NOTE The beginning of the calendar year is at its heart a fantasy of newness and clean slates of the chance to do things differently and with more attention to purpose. In reality, it’s also one of the most challenging times of the year for many of us, So holidays are over and fly straight into the plate-glass window of an overfull schedule. As I talk with friends and colleagues about plans, the word “ hectic” keeps coming up,and I think we should find that a little worrisome.A hectic fever is what you get when you have consump- tion. It looks a lot like excitement, but ultimately, you’re consumed. Our second issue is a call to take a breath and remember what it is that we’re doing, and why. You won’t find any New Year’s resolu- tion, but you will encounter many different angels on the idea of first principles: the ideas and position on which everything else is built. We don’t often have time to consider all the underlying stuff that gives our work shape, character, and meaning, and that time won’t ever appear on its own. But we can choose it. Even in the crazy spells and maybe especially then, when we’re making so many important decisions. We’ll have thoughts ranging from snacks-sized to feast- worthy by writers who lead content strategy projects, write interfaces, develop reading applications and build information systems.

CONTRIBUTORS Special Thanks SHEMA ABDOUL @shemaharris IRADUKUNDA MADINAH @madinahxviil WINNIE RUGAMBA @winnie.rugamba SAMIRA ISIMBI @isimbi_samira SHABANI SERVAL @shabaniserval THEZOOM 2018

WHAT’S INSIDE ? 12 22 MEET EMMANUEL MEET DJ MARNAUD 07 SOCIAL MEDIA How? Social media has become popular in Rwanda 13 FAMOUS TRIO Famous Trio Artist or Band Thoughout history

28 MEET WINNIE 19 DIASPORA 35 A little chat with Karla Kalisa INTERVIEW WITH LOUS We talk about music, lifestyle, art with this talented artist.

DID YOU KNOW ? The silhouette of two people. A friend you can rely on is standing behind you. Also symbolizes a community or group. Honey does not spoil. You could feasibly eat 3000 year old honey. Cats sleep for 70% of their lives.



SOCIAL MEDIA IMAGE BY GOOGLE

One website reveals that more than individuals, and organizations can all benefit from this simple means one billion people are on Facebook. of communicating. However, as 400 million people on Instagram, with all forms of internet-based 300 million people on Twitter, and communications, it provides an YouTube attracts more than 5 easy means for abuse such as Billion people a day and has 1.5 bullying, slander, and propaganda. billion logged in monthly users Pwatching a ton of mobile video. It arents would be wise to monitor further says people share more than their children’s use of social media. 50 billion pieces of content on I feel like the premise of social Facebook each month. media is a decent idea. It is nice According to Social media stats in to stay in touch with extended family members and some friends Rwanda Facebook 89.93% ; and in that respect, I think it is a Pinterest: 5.18%; Twitter: 2.89%, good thing. I believe, however, that Linkedin: 0.62%; YouTube: 0.49%; people who introduced social media, Instagram:0.27%Kagame,the now want to use it as an advertising ‘Digital President’ is an ardent platform, and that, to me, is bad. promoter of use of technology and believes in investing in the coun- try’s youth. The Rwandan leader who has deeply embraced e-governance, uses social media to easily interact with citizens including people across the world Social media can be a very good thing for opening up and maintaining lines of communication. Businesses,



WHAT IS CREATIVITY ? WHAT IS ART ? By [definition] it is a It is a [noun] that means the phenomenon whereby quality, production, something new and somehow expression, or realm, valuable is formed, The created according to aeshetic principles, of what is item may be beautiful, appealing, intagible such as an idea, a or of more than or- musical composition, or a dinary significance. physical object such as an invetion, a literary work, or a painting

#MEET EMMANUEL NKURANGA Painter and Co-Founder INEMA Art Center EMMANUEL NKURANGA is a self – taught painter and mixed –media expressionist and one of the founders of Inema Art Center in Kigali, Rwanda Nkuranga co-founded the Inema Art Center with his brother and fellow painter, innocent Nkurunziza, In 2010, Nkuranga founded Art with a Mission, which unlocks or- phans hidden artistic talent. Pieces are sold proceeds supporting or- phans livelihood and school fees. Dedicated to cultivating the talent around him, Nkuranga actively creates opportunities to expand creativity in his community and the world at large.

FAMOUS TRIO KIGALI BOYS URBAN BOYS SKANK NATION

Image By IZABELLA

ABOUT US Why You Need to Tell Your Story to the world Who are you? I bet you have a story to tell. Will you tell it? What would be the cost to you in your life if you choose not to tell your sto- ry? What would you like to share with the people who know you- and those who don’t? WHO ARE WE? We are an online magazine providing space for the youth to create and share their stories through art. It is important that we see ourselves in these spaces, showing that we do exist and we’re not going anywhere not only for ourselves but, for the future generations to come. WANT TO BE FEATURED IN THE NEXT ISSUE ? We want to feature you. Also, feel free to submit your photographs, accomplishments, poems, articles to our email [email protected]



WHY CALL ThisisaphenomenonthatinvolvesEuropean THEM cultures,butalsoculturesfromacrosstheglobe. This is to say Does Culture Affect our Person- DIASPORA ? ality? Loosely defined, culture refers to the shared values, beliefs and norms of a specific group of people. Culture, therefore, influenc- By KARLA KALISA es the manner we learn, live and behave. Be- cause of this, many theorists believe that cul- Some people call them diaspora other don’t ture is an important shaper of our personality. C Teven know how to call them he major elements of culture are symbols, ountries like Rwanda, Uganda and Ken- language, norms, values, and artifacts. Lan- ya has a huge diaspora populations in the guage makes effective social interaction possi- United States and European countries are ble and influences how people conceive of con- having a hard time digesting their return. ceptsandobjects.Majorvaluesthatdistinguish These nations and others are facing the many the United States include individualism, com- challenges posed by contemporary trans- petition, and a commitment to the work ethic. national communities and cultural flows. S Wome diaspora cultures, with clear ori- hy is language one of the most import- ant aspects of culture? Unlike other aspects gins following enforced dispersions, are well of culture, language does not change. When documented, for example the Rwandan, groups migrate, a shared language helps pre- Ugandan, Kenyan and the Burundian vent conflict. Language allows people to com- Diasporas and, more recently, However, the municate and provides a sense of identity. Lan- majority of countries throughout the world, guages can be classified into language families. and therefore most Council of Africa mem- ber states, in fact recognize their own dias- pora culture. In addition, whilst some dias- pora cultures are relatively unknown, the majority of member states play ‘”host” to a great number of different diaspora cultures. Diaspora cultures exist throughout the world.Thediffusionof cultureshascontributed to the existence of a number of diaspora com- munities, which seek to safeguard and consol- idate active links with their country of origin their ‘home land’ whilst preserving their sta- tus within their current country of reception.

ILLUSTRATION BY CHEYENNE MUVUNYI

#MEET DJ MARNAUD READ MORE BELOW

A little Introduction ? My name is Mugisha Gatera Arnaud; I just turned 23 How did it all start for you? I grew up loving music after the dance career, I turned to music because it was a longterm passion. Who is your biggest inspiration? I have never went through those role model things, I just do me and try to learn something new everyday. I got much respect to DJ karim because he is the one who brought me in this industry What is one track that never gets old for you no matter how many times you hear it? Slow wind by R.Kelly What is your favorite color? Red KEEP UP WITH HIM HERE Instagram: dj_marnaud Twitter: @dj_marnaud Soundcloud: dj-marnaud-677503918



FOUR INSTAGRAM ACCOUNTS YOU SHOULD PROBABLY BE FOLLOWING

CASIMIR ZAGOURSKI The Photographer In the years between the two world wars, no pho- tographer in central Africa visually articulated popular ideas about the peoples in this region more eloquently than Casimir Zagourski (1883-1944). His oeuvre consists of hundreds of black-and-white prints, exquisite in technical and aesthetic execution. Zagourski was born Kazimierz Zagórski in what is today Ukraine to the family of a Polish nobleman. (In 1883 Poland was under Russian occupation, and the family had moved to Russia.) Zagourski served in the czarist air force, and following the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917 he returned to a now-independent Poland, but he found it difficult to make a living. In 1924 he settled in Léopoldville, the capital of the Belgian Congo, and opened a photographic studio. Zagourski became an accomplished photographer specializing in portraiture. He soon received commis- sions from the colonial government to cover official events, and he photographed colonial buildings and establishments. His great passion, however, was to document the peoples of central Africa. Like his contem- poraries, he believed that central African cultures were on the verge of extinction and that pho- tography could preserve those aspects that were bound to disappear. Between 1929 and 1937, he set out on several expeditions to French Equatorial Africa (A.E.F.), Rwanda, Kenya and Tanganyika. With superb technique and great sensitivity he created portraits of Africans that-- although taken in the tradition of anthropological photography--evoke a sense of closeness and empathy.

#MEET WINNIE RUGAMBA A SPOKEN WORD/POET

HER POPULAR PIECE I’ve been told that I will publish books and many ENTITLED, more things that were meant to be encouraging, or “TO THE KID WITH sometimes just people voicing their dead dreams, POTENTIAL” but whatever it is I am thankful for the hope that everyone had in me but what I got to figure out When Potential Isn’t Enough along the way is that it is easier for people to talk “Winnie, you’re going to do big things in life.” If I about the lovely parts about life but never the ugly got a dollar every single time this was said to me, parts. hey, I would not be sitting in Wiley College trying Nobody really spoke about the barriers, hopeless- to get a degree, I’d probably be somewhere in the ness, loneliness, confusion, self-doubt, headaches, gorgeous streets of Venice, living life, but alas! Here sleepless nights, the burden that comes with knowl- I am. edge; no one ever told me that there will be days I I request you to read this with a very open mind. A will not want to wake up in the morning. In fact, I lot of it will sound like I am bragging, but just stay have the desire to forever be in bed. No one talked with me and you will understand where I am going about the nights that doubt will creep in your bed with this. Fortunately for me, I never had a rough and cuddle you till you fall asleep to the sound of time in school; from primary school to high school, your shattering confidence. Nobody talked about I was able to place first to third in class. With that the pressure, the pressure that comes with every- being said, you might think I was smart, but I just one expecting you to do well—not even expecting, think I have a remarkable memory that was able to really, but more like watching to see where you are memorize every single detail the day before a test going to mess up even though they are your loudest or exam, but please do not dare ask me a question cheerleaders; nobody talked about the uncertainty about what I read right after the test (yes, I am one that comes with all the options or “opportunities,” of those people). So, according to someone that I the fear of choosing the wrong major, career, job, do not know, somehow if you have always done well partner or just anything good that comes your way. in school, you’re automatically going to do well in Nobody told me about the reality. The reality of life just because “education is key.” While that is life. Whatever the reason, maybe they didn’t want a lie, it isn’t too far from the truth, either. A lot of to scare me or discourage me from dreaming and people that did well in school do end up doing well dreaming big but facing the truth after believing in their adulthood, excel in their jobs, and there is in a lie your whole life doesn’t really make it easier. nothing surprising about it because “they’ve always So, to the kid with “ potential,” to the kid with “a done well since a very young age,” which makes it a bright future,” to the kid with “a full life ahead”: valid assumption, I guess. Well, today, I’m in college Yes, you are talented, you are beautiful, you are and by God’s grace, it hasn’t been the worst. I am intelligent, you are confident, you are enough, you still able to get a couple of A’s and B’s as well as C’s are enough, you are enough. But you will get tired. whenever I forget to turn in my assignments, but Some days you will wish people did not expect so apart from that I was also involved in other stuff: much from you. You will wish you are allowed to debate team, poetry, acting, writing, and other take a break and cry, to miss classes once, twice, and things that exposed me to different people and plac- sometimes for a whole week; you will get scared— es which could be considered “impressive” consider- life definitely has a way of tapping into your insecu- ing where I’m from, I guess. Basically, I had it going rities; you will meet people that seem prettier than for me, people told me I was going to be great, do you, sing better than you, write better than you, big things, some predicted that I was going to be the speak better than you do, work faster than you do. minister of foreign affairs in Rwanda or the minister The trap of comparison is inevitable especially in a of gender and family promotion; others said I was world that feeds off competition and measuring suc- going to be an amazing actress, probably walk on cess in one way by whoever is setting the standards. that red carpet one day. Some days you will be trapped in it for a while. If you are a student, for example, trust me, at some point you will HATE school, hate your classes, your professors, and want to punch your classmates.

I use the word “hate” to emphasize on how strong As much as “trusting the process” sounds cliche, the emotion you will feel is. You will question the it is the reality, sometimes you will have a moment education system, you will question LIFE, so many of pause in your life or pauses at times. So when times! And the ugly truth is that you will at times we focus on everything outside and forget what is be visited by suicidal thoughts (I promise I am not happening within, it is then that we get weary, tired, being dramatic). and confused because we have forgotten to feed the Life will hit you from every corner and the thing is, inside first. So when those draining days say hello, contrary to the popular belief, it doesn’t take a trag- remember that it is OK, to just take a step back, edy to keep you in bed; it just takes life. Sometimes take a nap, then try again. In a world of flaws and it happens too fast, other days it happens too slow, endless imperfections, each one of us carries the some days it is fair and most days it is unfair. right amount of perfection required to get through You will be denied opportunities that you know you it. You’re enough. I am enough, we’re all enough. deserved perhaps because of your gender, race, and If you make it out of bed tomorrow morning and be sometimes just because they didn’t like you. You able to do life for the day…. hey! You’re winning! will meet bullies in form of people, thoughts, words, memories, or experiences. You will cry, a lot. You might develop a drinking problem just to numb the confusion; you will find things like relationships as an escape from reality just to be slapped by the very same thing. I know this sounds dramatic, pessimistic, childish maybe or just sounds like another spoiled child vent- ing. Whatever way you choose to take this, depends on you, I am just here to be what no one was to me and say what was never said to me. Despite all the ugly things mentioned above though, you are still that person that was mentioned before. Everything that is beautiful about you, everything that is true and pure about you is the things that will get you through the ugly days. The love in you will conquer the hate in the world, the confidence in you will rise at your lowest of moments, the voice, the writing, the engineering, the drawing, the color- ing, the painting, the eye, the accuracy, the leader, the healer, the counsellor, the magician in you will always find ways out. For some, it might take longer than others, but that is what life is. Every human is born alone, every human being has their own time; to grow, to learn, to graduate, to work, to fall in love, to fall out of love, to succeed, and at last, to die. I say all this to wake up the spirit of calmness in you and in me. To remember that it isn’t about how fast you get to the finish line but about noticing and appreciating the leaps, strides, moments, and heart that you put in everything that you are doing. It is about patience, patience, patience.

HOT & NOT People who post too much instagram span .If every second post is paid for, why are we even following you? If I wanted that kind of saturation of paid for posts, I’d spend more time on facebook.Scratchies? Health insurance? Ugh. NOT Swimwear warn how it’s meant to be warn As summer approaches I’d like to introduce a new idea: not showing your swimmers up your butt in some weird instagram post – wedgie situation. If you want to show off your but, just buy a G, you guys. HOT

EVENTS PHOTO BY SPOKEN WORD I AM HIP HOP A monthly event organized by Green Ferry Record to promote the Hip Hop and rap music in Rwanda. The event features Hip Hop artist like Prime, Bushali, Nova and many more. PRIME @IamHipHopSeason4

MEET LOUS +INTERVIEW Image By IZABELLA

What’s some background information How do you stay inspired? What do you about yourself that you don’t mind do when you’re uninspired? sharing with our readers? I’m writing at least 10 songs a week, even when I’m I’m 21 years old; I’m from Rwanda and Congo. My not in the mood (which happens once every then off-stage name is “Marie-Pierra Kakoma” and I was decade), I kind of force myself to. And that exer- born in Congo, Lubumbashi and I’ve lived in Congo cise has kept me inspired all these years. Sometimes obviously and also Zambia, Belgium, and Rwanda. I don’t write songs really but I write, like, letters I have two gorgeous sisters and one amazing brother maybe to myself, or my lovers or I write books. It’s just that writing is something I enjoy so much and When did your love of music begin? that makes me feel so good, I don’t really have a problem staying inspired, because all of my music It arrived so early when I was a little girl, I can’t talks about things that happened to me in the past remember really. I could never describe what music of things I would like to have in the future, or my did to my soul as a child because it felt so unreal, so family, my lovers, my... It’s always about something powerful. Music was like a dream full of beautiful around or inside of me, so it’s easy to write about flowers, if that makes sense things for me, I just have to open my eyes or close them and see what’s going on inside and out. Lousandtheyakuza, how did you come up with your name? Who does your album artwork? “Lous” is the word “Soul” backward. My music So many people tried to send me their art work of is the language of my soul, I think if souls could what could be the album cover but I haven’t find the speak, that’s the kind of sound they will do. They right one yet. And I think I’ll be working more with will sound like precious melodies... photographers than actual graphic designers for this And “Yakuza” stands for all the people who help album cover. me create my music. I feel like giving them cred- its directly in my name because those people (beat What’s in the near future for makers, musicians, engineers, studio owners, manag- Lousandtheyakuza? ers, assistants, etc...) are the reason why music can go from my little note book to everybody’s ears. And I’m working on a tape with one of my friend at the I could never thank them enough. And I also chose moment, and I’m probably going to put out that the word “Yakuza” and not another one because I’m tape before my album. And I still have no exact date addicted to Japanese culture and I’ve always ended for my album but it’s probably going to be dropped up working with the most strange people and they in the early 2018. sometimes have the aspect of gangsters ha-ha How would you best describe your What’s the weirdest thing that’s ever genre of music? happened to you while working on a song? I will describe it as “Music I like” because I do so much different type of music; I do French pop, I think it’s the “crying thing” that I have. I keep on Trap, Hip hop, Traditional, Acoustic, Tripop, RnB, crying over and over when a write songs about love. Soul, Blues, Rock’n Roll, Korean pop, Funk music, Because I feel like I’ve been hurt so much and my etc. I enjoy all kind of music in the world and I heart is broken and sometimes I wonder if I will fix don’t want to get in one box at the moment really, it one day. And that makes me cry every time. I’m I just want to feel free and create so I don’t push also very sensitive ha-ha... So it’s not really hard for myself in one or another category. me to cry, but I only cry when I’m alone, far away from human beings.

Outside of music, what else do you like to do in your spare time? I mostly paint and write books. I love drawing and mixing colors together. It gives me peace and I need peace. And sometimes I also model a little bit, and I take my friends to eat, that’s what I love the most. Just enjoying my friends and my people as much as I can, because I’m always very busy, I’m kind of the ghost of every group of friends that I’ve been in since forever. I always working on music, so I’m stuck in the studio, or on stage and it’s hard to be friend with me because I never have time to even call or text back so for those who are still there, under- standing my situation, I’m really grateful for them. Image By VINCENT Image By B. VANDELOISE As a young black girl creative, why is- representation important to you? Because all the humans matter. I think we should all feel free to showcase our love for our self and our traditions and culture. I’m happy when I see Asian with something they can call their own, same for Africans, blue people, red people, old people, etc... I just feel comfortable around people who are proud of themselves and where they come from. I don’t put myself in any box as I said before, I am a “young black creative” for sure, but I prefer to be just ”Lous” and not define myself with the amount of melanin that lives inside my skin. I will always defend black people’s rights and values but I will defend with the same rage white’s people rights and values. We are all equals, that’s what I stand for every day.

LOUS LOUSANDTHEYAKUZA SOUNDCLOUD / YOUTUBE LOUSANDTHEYAKUZA



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