Huruma Rainbow Singers

Huruma Rainbow Singers (HRS) is a name for an association of singers established to promote choral music in Tanzania. Established in September 2004 by 25 founding members, HRS is registered with the National Arts Council of Tanzania (BASATA). Its current members form a standard mixed choir that performs choral works of eclectic nature for the purpose of entertaining, educating, sensitizing, propagating as well as fundraising for the needy in society.

Types of music performed by HRS include African Traditional Music, Classical Music, Gospel Music

HURUMA is a Kiswahili term for Mercy or Charity. We identify with it and we emphasize it through the music we perform and the charity works we do in society to help the needy. HRS is made up of non-musical professionals. We are a RAINBOW association of members with diverse, sexes, age groups and ideas, ethnic, as well as professional and intellectual backgrounds. Most of the members have been SINGERS since school times, and have had a long background in church choirs. So far, the association has three trainers who have been training choirs for over 20 years in various parts of Tanzania. Currently, HRS consists of 30 mixed singers.

Our objectives include promoting choral music in Tanzania; doing charity works for the needy; carrying out educational and sensitization programs in society through musical compositions addressing environment, health, social and economic problems; civic and human rights; while also creating employment through choral music.

ALEXANDER NDIBALEMA KAIJA

ALEXANDER NDIBALEMA KAIJA was born in Muleba, Kagera region, northwestern Tanzania. He holds a diploma in teaching from Butimba Teachers’ College. He received his first music lessons at Rubya Seminary between 1985 and 1987, before he joined Kanyigo Development Association Secondary School in Kagera region, and Kigurunyembe Teachers College, in Morogoro region, where he also did music.

He has been conducting choirs since 1983, when together with Ansbert Ngurumo, Johannes Rweyemamu and Philbert Kakwezi, he conducted a school choir at St John Bosco’s Seminary, Rutabo, of Bukoba Catholic Diocese, Tanzania, even before attaining formal training in music.

Kaija has also trained and conducted church choirs in Bushumba sub-parishe, Katoke Parish; Kigurunyembe College choir; Butimba TTC college choir; St. John Bosco Choir at Bukoba Cathedral and Huruma Rainbow Singers (HRS).