Discover Mvaknow
Untied expressionist from Kigali, Rwanda
Meet Mvaknow (formerly Mxnzi Le Poete), Rwanda’s legend in the making. Not self-proclaimed… just confidently forecasted.He’s the kind of creative who clearly didn’t pick one talent at the character selection screen. Poet. Actor. Musician. Playwright. visual artist. If there’s a stage, a mic, or a spotlight involved, he’s probably already figured it out. Modern renaissance energy; but make it rooted in the ancestral connaissance.From starring in the hit local TV drama INDOTO to dropping a Grammy-submitted spoken word album (yes, that kind of submitted), Mvaknow has leveled up from high school hallways to international stages; performing for presidents, festivals, rooms where the lighting alone costs more than your rent, and rooms where the flashlight of his phone was the only lighting.And now? He’s rebranding. Sharpening the sound. Expanding the vision. Making art that hits the conscience.This isn’t just a glow-up. It’s an esoteric takeover… politely executed!
Projects
Sticking to any genre or discipline is never my thing. I explore and experiment as much as I learn.
At the end of the day, life ain't that serious :)
Shrouded Barriers
"Our differences should not be a reason to hate each other, but rather a motivation to live a diverse life that is more fun and interesting."
Shrouded Barriers was a theatrical solo music play that was launched in 2019 in Kigali and Nairobi. Integrating variations between human beings was the main goal of this piece. Only a solo artist produced and performed this 45-minute long play (Mxnzi le Poete).
RENAISSANCE Tale 1
My debut spoken word album.
Album title: RENAISSANCE Tale 1
Precis: “Renaissance Tale1” is my debut slam tape; it’s a fusion of irregular poetic tales blended with beats made from samples of native African sounds. It was all produced by one producer Jösh.
This tape foregrounds craftsmanship and lyricism in a futuristic way while remaining connected to current visible and hidden realities. Blending heavy lyricism with hip-hop beats crafted from an assortment of local African sounds.
Release date: 08-13-2022
Tracks: 7
Performer: Mxnzi Le Poete
Genre: Spoken word (main), Hip-hop (secondary)
Languages: Kinyarwanda, Kirundi, Swahili, English, and French
Featured artists: Ric Noir and Owizyforlife
Runtime: 16 minutes 8 seconds
UPC: 733428828245
Audio Producer: Josh Muzika
Sound Engineer: Josh Muzika
Executive Producer: Mxnzi Le Poete
Distributor: One RPM
Smart Link: https://onerpm.link/661234742044
Copyright: Mxnzi Le Poete 2022
TDG (Tales of a Demented Generation)
Extended Play
Tape title: Tales of a Demented Gen
Precis: “Tales of a Demented Gen” is an extended play created specifically for the "OUR PAST" event, 2023 edition. This collection provides a narrative perspective from the youth born during and after the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, showcasing both thematic depth and artistic expression.
Release date: 04-14-2023
Tracks: 4
Performer: Mxnzi Le Poete
Genre: Spoken word (main), soul, Experimental Hip-hop (secondary)
Languages: Kinyarwanda, English, and French
Featured artists: Ella Rings, Placide Irad, Muktal Inkindi, and Ira
Runtime: 8 minutes 6 seconds
Audio Producer: Placide Irad
Sound Engineer: Placide Irad
Executive Producer: Mxnzi Le Poete
Distributor: One RPM
Smart Link: https://open.spotify.com/album/71koFPGKC4FnOJq8a4yqdp?si=0c3CFQDCTFinWk6-p2B-Ew
Copyright: Mxnzi Le Poete & Placide Irad 2023
NTWAZA
Experimental piece
The process of crafting this piece has been an experimental journey that took me out of my comfort zone and opened me up to new avenues of creativity which made it all the more interesting and captivating, I would wake up every day excited to see what creation the day holds; from crafting the characters, getting a structure of the piece, introducing the idea to the team, holding a creation workshop, drafting the costume, to the actual performance in the night of 9th April 2022.
Piece: NTWAZA
Written and directed by Mxnzi Le Poete
Choreographed by @the_urbansong
Actors: @winny__black @ndi.sano____ @ninasal_arts @inkindi_muqtar @zuhla__ @umutarts_official @manziroger_manro Josette Abdoul Boaz Special thanks to @our_past_initiative #kwibuka28
