Alexandre Mwitende is one of those individuals who embody the phrase ‘disability is not inability.’
The 44-year-old has stood out to make a mark on the music industry in Rwanda, without allowing visual disability to stand in his way.
Although he wasn’t quite in the limelight, Mwitende, who plays a bevy of musical instruments, has been doing music steadily as a trainer, instrumentalist, and musician-usually performing songs from other peoples.
Mwitende boasts the ability to play different types of guitars, drums, and piano; to exude an aura of confidence and passion, defying the belief that disability is inability.
Up until recently, when he decided to add something new to his work, going to the studio to record his own music, he was often performing to audiences on occasions like public celebrations, weddings and other events.
He’s released two songs so far, and looks for more recording as he wants to make the most of his talent.
“My music, prior to launching my career as an artiste, has been earning me money, but I can’t say that it has been much. If I play instruments in traditional events or performances, or train people, I am paid. But this is just a little money to support me and my family,” he says.
Mwitende hopes that beginning his own career will take him to places where he’s dreaming of getting a concert in Canada or Belgium,
“It is possible because the songs are available, the mind to compose them is available, and I am also around,” he says.
His two songs so far ‘Reka nkuririmbe’ and ‘Urukundo’ were done through her institution, which cares for people with mental disabilities, with the support of the gospel artist Tonzi.
Because of natural conditions Mwitende was blind at less than five years of age. A couple of years later, he entered a music school in Gatagara where he discovered his passion for music and the teachers helped him develop it.
He says disability is not inability, and encourages people to be assured that they can be successful and operating normally.
“There are many people who think that people with disabilities cannot do anything. That’s not true,” he says.
“What can’t a blind person do? They can be leaders; they can be musicians and more as long as they have gone to school. And going to school is possible. Nowadays we are studying and even reaching university level. Having a disability is not inability,” he adds.
He says that being blind or having another kind of disability does not mean that you are unable to go after your dreams.
“You are able to work like others. I am a musician, and I won’t stop because it is where I earn a living. I have a family, I have children for whom I take care of, I reside in Kigali and all of this I got is supported by my music,” he said.
