Peace Jolis never set out to become a musician. In his own words, “I didn’t know that I would do music. It was something surprising to me.” Raised in Kigali, drifting between Remera and Kacyiru, Peace was just another child playing in the streets—until a quiet magic took root during family outings with his mother.
“Some days, my mother would take me to concerts,” he recalls. “We used to go to Expo together and watch musicians performing. Coming back home, I would interpret what they were doing.” It was during one of these moments that his mother made a prophecy: this boy might be a musician one day.
Today, that boy has grown into a respected Rwandan artist whose soulful blend of R&B and Afrobeat speaks not only to rhythm but to purpose. But his path, like his melodies, is layered—with challenges, resilience, and an unwavering love for art.
Born of Sound, Forged by Struggle
Peace’s musical journey is not paved with platinum or polished stages. It is a path defined by grit. One memory in particular captures the essence of those early days.
“There’s this concert I was going to attend. I jumped on a motorbike with my CD in my pocket, but by the time I got to the venue, the CD had broken,” he says, shaking his head. “I really wanted to perform, so I ran down the street to a CD shop and asked if they had my songs. I had to buy my own music just to perform. No one even knew me back then.”
In a time when music in Rwanda lived mostly on the radio and artists lacked visual platforms, he hustled. “Back in the day, we didn’t have proper visuals. If people met you on the street, they wouldn’t know you unless someone told them, ‘That’s Peace Jolis.’
Making Music That Matters
For Peace, music isn’t confined to recording booths and concert stages. He wears many creative hats—television producer, theater practitioner, and cultural promoter. He produces Itetero, a beloved children’s TV show on Rwanda’s national broadcaster, and actively works in theater, finding ways to weave music and storytelling together.
Today, Peace is no longer the unknown face behind a broken CD. He is the voice behind Turiri Mbane, a children’s music album he’s promoting that combines entertainment, education, and cultural pride. “It enforces Kinyarwanda language into our young children here in Rwanda,” he explains.
The inspiration for this project dates back to 2018, when he attended a UNICEF Rwanda workshop on communicating with children. “It highlighted the role of art and media in reaching young minds. What I learned there really inspired me to use my own art to create meaningful content for children.”
But projects like these aren’t easy to bring to life. “One of the main challenges I face as a music artist in Rwanda is the lack of financial support,” Peace shares. “I often have big ideas, but the budget doesn’t match the vision. It’s also hard to find a dedicated team to grow with.”
To fund his music, Peace relies on the income he earns from other creative ventures. “Everything I do is related to music,” he says proudly. That includes producing Itetero, a television show on Rwanda’s national broadcaster, and working in theater.
Peace’s signature sound—emotional, reflective, and undeniably Rwandan—draws from the rhythms of his childhood. “I grew up when R&B was a thing—Craig David, Akon. Later Afrobeat came in, and I found myself doing Afro R&B.”
Ask him what kind of music brings him joy, and he responds with clarity: “Music that speaks to the soul—whether it’s deeply emotional, uplifting, or carries a strong message.”
And of all his songs, which one is his favorite? “It’s hard to choose,” he says with a smile. “Every project I allow myself to release is very dear to my heart. I think I love them all.”
Vision for the Future
As Rwanda’s creative industries continue to grow—helped by a government push to promote “Made in Rwanda” arts and culture—Peace is optimistic but realistic.
“We have good talents out there, but we lack proper branding and marketing for our art. We need professionals to support and guide us, as well as investors to help us take our music to a global audience.”
As for his own future? “In the next five years, I see my art touching a lot of people,” he says. “Even today, my art is everywhere. But tomorrow will be better than today.”
From the broken CD to the bright vision for Rwandan children, Peace Jolis is proof that when music chooses you, it will find its way through—against all odds.