Rwanda: Charly and Nina tour to champion girls' education

Titled #1000 Girls Iwacu, Umukobwa Ni Ahazaza (Girls at Home Are the Future), the tour will also feature other yet to be announced female musicians who will join the duo in the districts of Muhanga, Huye, Rwamagana, Ngoma, Rusizi, Karongi, Musanze and Rubavu.

“This was our way of giving back to the communities and talking to the girls about problems that teenage girls face in everyday life,” Nina told The New Times. "We believe that young girls need mentors and people to look up to, which is what we want to do.

"Some of us were raised in rural areas and we know the importance of having mentors to equip you with the right life skills. This is something we have been thinking of doing for the last three years and we are grateful to the EU for sponsoring us to put it into practice.”

She said the group hoped to transform the lives of young girls by tackling topics such as the importance of staying in school, HIV prevention and the risks of unwanted pregnancy. 

Charly and Nina's popularity, particularly with Rwandese and Ugandan young people, places the duo in an ideal position to lead the Girls Iwacu, Umukobwa Ni Ahazaza drive.

They recently cancelled a 1 May concert in Uganda, citing security reasons. This after the Rwandese government warned its citizens against traveling to neighbouring Uganda due to strenuous relations between the two countries, which have been perpetuated by the arrest of four alleged spies of Rwandan descent by Ugandan security personnel.