Zither player

Rutangira was born around 1914. In the 1940s, he was deputy chief in the territory of Astrida,
on the hill of Mara (in Huye district today). In 1944, he was dismissed from this post and
survived, thereafter, thanks to agro-pastoral activities.
During the time he was deputy chief, Rutangira showed a keen interest in traditional
Rwandan music, historical songs on the zither as well as the sounds produced by the royal
drums and he quickly became one of a master zitherist of his time.
At first, Rutangira interprets songs heard during evening gatherings at the royal court, then
adds pieces from the peripheral regions and finally creates his own ballads to the delight of
his audience. His collection consists of around fifty pieces of songs.
He worked extensively with the IRSAC between 1947 - 1959 and died in 1968 while exiled
in Burundi.