In Colourful Generation, Bruce Melodie creates a slip between entertainment and authenticity, hitting his mark with ease, and proving he is still a top-notch crooner in Rwandan music.
By Frank Njugi
For over three decades, reality music competition shows have served as a platform for promoting music by offering exposure and potential career opportunities to competing artistes. They provide a stage where raw talent is forged in the heat of competition, ultimately producing polished gems ready to shine in the global music industry.
In Rwanda, one such competition, the Primus Guma Guma Super Star (PGGSS), has proven to be a powerful launchpad, showcasing and elevating the country’s musical talents to global recognition.
This is particularly evident in the career trajectory of its Season 8 winner, Bruce Melodie. Since winning PGGSS in 2018, he has gone on to dominate the musical landscape of Rwanda and East Africa, shaping the sound and culture of a generation.
Bruce Melodie has, since his PGGSS win, released chart-topping singles such as “Katerina” and “FOU DE TOI” and has also founded a record label, Igitangaza Music, which has been at the forefront of promoting Rwanda’s best-emerging talents. His most recent endeavour is the release of his first major studio album, Colourful Generation.
The project appears to be designed to showcase the versatility of Rwanda’s modern musical sound, aiming to export its unique blend to the world through notable collaborations with renowned regional and global music stars.
Colourful Generation is produced by Element Eleeh, arguably one of East Africa’s finest producers in recent times. After a short, one-minute-and-34-second “Intro”, which features an anthemic chorus, Bruce Melodie gets into action with the single “Wallet”, a catchy pop track in which he cleverly weaves his thesis on how a lover should be treated.
“Wallet” is a preamble to a series of sultry dancefloor anthems that Bruce Melodie weaves throughout Colourful Generation. It sets the stage for tracks such as “Maruana”, where smooth romantic lyrics contrast intriguingly with the high-tempo, danceable beat, and “Ulo”, which features a sparse interplay between Bruce Melodie’s commanding voice and a rhythm rooted in the cathartic elation of hip-shaking party music.
The titular track, “Colourful Generation”, narrates the experiences of the current generation of young Africans. Bruce Melodie captures their essence through a beat with a climactic build, inviting listeners to let go and be unapologetically themselves on the dancefloor—just as young and free as they are.
“Energy” features a trance-like melody and bouncing, snappy mid-tempo percussion, combined with Bruce Melodie’s soft vocals as he sings about the invigorating effect of a lover’s presence.
“Sowe” is a track that blends the silky fluidity of Afrobeats with dance music inflections, with drums taking centre stage in its beat and lyricism steeped in romanticism. “Beauty on Fire” ventures into the realm of sensuous breathiness, with Bruce Melodie likening a lover’s passion to fire over a beat that carries similar Afrobeats influences as “Sowe.”
“Beauty on Fire” is also the first of six collaborations on Colourful Generation, featuring Nigerian singer and songwriter, Joeboy. The next collaboration is with Grammy Award-winning Kenyan singer and songwriter, Bien, on the track “Iyo Foto”, an upbeat display of emotional depth, sweet harmonies, and a catchy hook. Bien captivates by singing about his afflictions in explicit detail, delivering his lyrics multilingually, much like Bruce Melodie.
The next two collaborations feature South African Afro-Pop duo, Blaq Diamond, and Rwandan artiste, Bulldog, on the singles, “Niki Minaji” and “Ndi Umusunzi”, respectively.
“Niki Minaji” draws inspiration from American rapper, Nicki Minaj’s bold persona, using her as an analogy for a confident, sensually captivating woman. The track is set against a compelling beat that subtly incorporates Afro-Piano elements. Meanwhile, “Ndi Umusunzi” is Colourful Generation’s only Hip-Hop track, infused with Kinyatrap influences, including Drill music’s distorted 808s and a Trap-inspired flow from both artistes.
The final collaborations feature Kenyan singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, Bensoul, alongside Jamaican-American reggae musician, Shaggy. On “Juu”, Bensoul brings a refreshing jolt to a track steeped in pop-R&B influences, his powerful vocals contrasting with Bruce Melodie’s effortless charm and effervescence.
The track “When She Is Around (Funga Macho)” with Shaggy strikes a balance between Pop and Dancehall. Shaggy and Bruce Melodie sing about a woman who is like a wildfire burning bright, a storm that pulls one in—her chaotic nature leaving one torn between walking away or surrendering completely.
Since establishing himself as a dominant force in the Rwandan and East African music scene, Bruce Melodie has been recognised as an artiste deeply attuned to Contemporary R&B influences, particularly its romantic and sensual inclinations. He fully embraces this in Colourful Generation, with several songs emerging as heartfelt romantic ballads.
“Oya” is a declaration of unwavering commitment, with the artiste vowing to always keep his lover well, safe, and cherished. The track incorporates synthetic piano influences, leading smoothly into its follow-up, “Narinziko Uzagaruka”, which features a rich piano melody and delicately applied keys that create a soulful foundation, enhancing the song’s intimate, emotional tone. Bruce Melodie sings the entirety of “Narinziko Uzagaruka” in Kinyarwanda.
“Diva” and “Rosa” are dedicated to reverently praising women as the most beautiful beings, capturing their grace in every line. In both tracks, Bruce Melodie’s melismas glide effortlessly through the bass, adding a rich vocal texture.
“Maya” and “Kuki” seamlessly retain this aesthetic, carrying the same heartfelt intensity and melodic richness. However, this time, Bruce Melodie employs more brooding melodies and groovy percussion. “Kuki” takes on a more laid-back feel, with Bruce Melodie soaring effortlessly as he revels in the undeniable power of his vocals.
The final two songs, “Nzaguha Umugisha” and “Sinya”, serve as Colourful Generation’s bonus tracks. “Nzaguha Umugisha” is a ballad where Bruce Melodie taps into intriguing melodic pockets, delivering a slow-burning and fluid rendition in Kinyarwanda, much like “Narinziko Uzagaruka”.
“Sinya”, on the other hand, is a mid-tempo track that lingers within the familiar soundscape fans have come to expect from Bruce Melodie—a fusion of cultural beats, emphasised by African drums, with catchy Pop melodies.
The 21 songs on Bruce Melodie’s Colourful Generation pay homage to Rwanda in the best way music possibly can—by staying sonically authentic while maintaining an appeal that resonates with audiences beyond its borders. His music’s regional identity is undeniable, woven seamlessly into each track.
In Colourful Generation, Bruce Melodie effortlessly balances entertainment and authenticity, hitting his mark with ease and reaffirming his status as a top-tier crooner in Rwandan music.
Lyricism – 1.5
Tracklisting – 1.3
Sound Engineering –1.7
Vocalisation – 1.6
Listening Experience – 1.4
Rating – 7.5 /10
Frank Njugi is a Kenyan Writer, Culture journalist and Critic who has written on the East African and African culture scene for platforms such as Debunk Media, Republic Journal, Sinema Focus, Culture Africa, Drummr Africa, The Elephant, Wakilisha Africa, The Moveee, Africa in Dialogue, Afrocritik and others. He tweets as @franknjugi.