Dorothee Munyaneza by Dorothee Munyaneza
Dorothee Munyaneza initially gained worldwide exposure following her film music debut on the soundtrack of the Oscar-nominated 2004 feature film "Hotel Rwanda". Her subsequent recording collaborations with the original Afro Celt Sound System as a guest singer on their Real World Records releases, "Volume 5 - Anatomic" (2005) and "Capture" (2010) and occasional live performances with the band were greeted with critical acclaim, her impassioned singing making her instantly popular among the devotees of the band worldwide. This solo project, co-written and developed over several years with Grammy-nominated composer, producer and engineer Martin Russell, marks her full emergence into the world music arena.
Dorothee, who was 12 at the time of the Rwandan genocide in 1994, is now married and lives in Marseilles with her husband and two children. Her performance career has been wide and varied, ranging from guest appearances with the original Afro Celt Sound System to starring vocal and dance performances in touring productions of director Francois Verret's Kafka-esque performance-drama "Ice", and becoming a core part of the "La Compagnie FV". Prior to this she performed extensively throughout Europe with The Jonas Foundation as a singer, dancer, percussionist and actress, sang and acted in Francois Verret's previous production, "Sans Retour", took part in fundraising events for "Terre des Hommes", performed as a soloist at a concert for "Chain of Hope" at the Royal Overseas League at the 2006 Geneva Movement for Peace convention, and at the 2006 Inauguration of the Commission for Human Rights at the Geneva UN Palace.
Dorothee's passion is social integration through music and the arts - her goal is eventually to be able to start a school for art, dance and music in Rwanda, helping children and young people to grow up with an enduring love of music and each other.
Tracklist
| 1. | Iminsi (Reconciliation Time) | 4:25 |
| 2. | Njyenyine (Alone) | 4:28 |
| 3. | Nyicara (By My Side) | 3:40 |
| 4. | Godeliva (For My Aunt) | 4:03 |
| 5. | Iteka (Always And Forever) | 2:53 |
| 6. | Akaririmbo (A Song For My Child) | 3:22 |
| 7. | Ingoma (Kingdom Of Deceit) | 5:33 |
| 8. | Agaciro (Your Worth) | 4:05 |
| 9. | Inzozi (I Must Be Dreaming) | 4:49 |
| 10. | Urugendo (Moving On) | 3:22 |
| 11. | One Minute | 4:01 |
| 12. | Urugamba (The Fight Goes On...) | 4:59 |
| 13. | Icyatumye (Why) | 3:46 |
| 14. | Igihe (Where Were You?) | 4:11 |
Credits
Produced and arranged by Martin Russell for Sonic Innovation UK
Recorded at Sonic Innovation and mixed at Big Top by Martin Russell
Drums recorded at Humber Road Studio by Ian Tompson
All tracks written by Dorothee Munyaneza and Martin Russell
Artwork and photography by Faith Tatou
THE PLAYERS:
DOROTHEE MUNYANEZA: Voice, backing vocals, djembe, handclaps and thigh slaps
RICHARD MARCANGELO: Drums, percussion, occasional handclaps
TIM STONE: Acoustic, nylon and electric guitars
MARTIN RUSSELL: Keyboards, bass guitar (tracks 2,8 &11), guitar (8 & 14), berimbau (7)
KAZ KASOZ: Bass guitar (2, 4, 7, 9-10 & 13)
ANDREW CRONSHAW: Zither and marovantele (1 & 5), ba-wa (1), jawharps (1, 5 & 8)
AL STEWART: Soprano saxophone (2 & 7), bass clarinet (2), tenor saxophone (10)
NASHER: Additional guitars (5, 7 & 11)
FAITH TATOU: Backing vocals (5 & 8)
PHILIP ACHILLE: Chromatic harmonica (4-5)
SIMON FIELDER: Didgeridoo (6)
MARTIN O'NEIL: Bodhran (11)
MICHAEL O"CONNOR: Bass sample (1)
ANTONIA RUSSELL: Backing vocals (2)
Special Thanks
What a journey this has been! My deepest gratitude goes to my family.... Dear Mum and Dad, thank you for your utter love and support. I am truly blessed. To my darling sister, Faith, thank you for showing me the way and for gracing this project with your beautiful voice and creativity. Thank you Benjamin, my beloved brother, your quiet determination, gentle spirit, raw talent and love are an encouragement to all who know you. I can’t wait for your beatbox on the next batch! Thanks to all my friends.... those who are and those who came and are no longer around, your constant love makes life worth living. I also thank my Godmother Christine, Ulrich Sigwart, the entire Jonas Foundation, all the teachers who believed in me throughout the years, and the students I had the privilege to meet and teach. Thank you! To the great musicians who touched the songs on this album with your souls, thank you. I dedicate this album to the Rwandan people. Live and let live. Dorothee (Paris, April 2009)
Thanks also to Pete Ardron, Claire Bidwell, Rob Bozas
Michael Connell, Andrew Cronshaw, Johan Deflander
Paula Henderson, Nasher, Michael O'Connor, Radio La Benevolencija, Neil Wilkes
License
All rights reserved.
Dorothee Munyaneza initially gained worldwide exposure following her film music debut on the soundtrack of the Oscar-nominated 2004 film Hotel Rwanda. Her subsequent collaboration with Afro Celt Sound System as a guest singer on their Real World Records release Vol 5: Anatomic was greeted with critical acclaim. This is her debut solo project, developed with ACSS founder & producer Martin Russell