Sol Solange

Sol Solange' (Marie Solange Nishimwe) is a Rwandan content creator, poet, and singer known for travel and lifestyle storytelling, including her “Uko Nageze” videos. Quotes 2021 "Through poetry and music, I console lonely hearts, spread love, and speak for those who are afraid, or not able to do so. Poetry gives me life and music makes me happy." "It was a nice poem. I read it after spending some days learning about England's history and its empire. This story featuring the queen as an independent woman with knowledge about both science and art, triggered me to try and come up with my lines." "Nowadays, the poetry industry is being developed by a lot of poets who are keen to uplift it. If it is used together with music, it could be the best combination. Music provides a reasonable environment for understanding and poetry creates amusing rhythm through words." 22-year-old poet and singer on using art to change lives, The New Times, 21 June 2021. 2024 "At first, it was a bit confusing, and even offending, because everyone found my video hilarious, even though I had simply shared my thoughts and experiences without any intention to be funny." "I began taking content creation seriously in November 2022. However, I don't want to be swept away by fame. Instead, I want to focus on impactful storytelling." "I'm not a comedian, but I don't mind making someone smile or jiggle if I can. However, going forward, I want to find a way to link it to causes dear to my heart, like public health issues for instance." "I don't think there's one specific way to do things. For instance, I want to find a way to incorporate creative storytelling in health causes." "Like, how cool would it be to trend and be impactful at the same time." Of content and unintended fame: Sol Solange shares experience, The New Times, 4 January 2024. 2024 "Content yanjye ni ukugaragaza ubwiza bw’u Rwanda n’ibihakorerwa binyuze mu nkuru. Intego yanjye mu byo nkora ni ugukundisha abantu iby'iwacu ndetse no kugaragaza uburyo ubuhanzi bwo kubara inkuru [Storytelling art] ari ingirakamaro." (Original Kinyarwanda; English translation: "My content is about showcasing the beauty of Rwanda and what happens there through stories. My goal is to make people love our country and show the importance of the art of storytelling.") "Byari inzozi zibaye impamo, sinigeze ntekereza ko naba umwe mu batumirwa gusa mu kanya gato nabonye ko ntakidashoboka." (Original Kinyarwanda; English translation: "It was a dream come true. I never imagined I would be among the invited guests, but in that short moment I realised that nothing is impossible.") Amarangamutima ya Sol Solange nyuma yo kwitabira ibirori bisoza umwaka Perezida Kagame yakiriyemo abantu batandukanye, InyaRwanda, 2 January 2024. 2024 "Seeing all these prominent influencers who invest heavily in content creation, both financially and otherwise, truly motivated me to push myself even further." "Many of these individuals are working professionally with dedicated teams and balancing their casual jobs. This experience has convinced me that it's the right time to take content creation seriously." "Engaging with influencers from different cultural backgrounds provided a unique opportunity to exchange ideas, perspectives, and experiences, making the journey even more memorable and impactful." Sol Solange professionalises content creation after China blogging campaign, The New Times, 2 August 2024.