Discover Mvaknow
Untied craftsman from Kigali, Rwanda
Mxnzi Le Poete, government name MANZI NTARE NKAKA, is an outspoken and eloquent Rwandan spoken-word artist, poet, music producer, playwright, rapper, and actor with a keen interest in social and political issues.
Currently in the process of rebranding from Mxnzi Le Poete to Mvaknow, he embodies the motto, “Legend in the making,” which has propelled him to greater heights in his art career—from an ordinary performing poet in high school to an innovative storyteller experimenting with various projects.
Mxnzi’s craft and exploits as a seasoned performer have given him the opportunity to work in diverse creative venues. He launched his autonomous career with the solo theatre performance "Shrouded Barriers," first presented in Kigali and later at the Kenya International Theatre Festival in Nairobi.
His first studio album, ‘RENAISSANCE Tale 1,’ received recognition from the Recording Academy as part of the inaugural submissions for the Grammy’s Best Spoken Word Album category.
Mxnzi has graced various significant stages, including the UGHE's Hamwe Festival 2021 edition, Volkano Fun Fest 2022 editions, and Rwanda’s Liberation Day event in 2019, attended by HE President Paul Kagame. In 2023, he further solidified his international presence by performing at the Amani Festival in Bukavu, DRC.
When the world shut down due to Covid-19, Mxnzi was cast as a supporting actor in the TV drama “INDOTO,” which aired on national television twice a week. In a matter of moments, he became a staple in the growing Kigali arts scene. Mvaknow is now amped up for his fast growth, embracing the journey of a contemporary renaissance man blending art with purpose, leaving a beautiful imprint for the world and the future to embrace.
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
