World Music Institute to Present The Good Ones in November

WMI will present Rwandan duo The Good Ones, a band formed in 1987 as a healing process after the Rwandan genocide - an active attempt to seek out "the good ones," after having endured and witnessed unthinkable horrors. Their vocalizations are based on the singing traditions of their local agricultural district and the primary songwriter, Adrien Kazigira interweaves intricate harmonies with co-singer, Janvier Havugimana, in a style frequently referred to as "worker songs from the streets." With the musicians' rural and very remote hilltop origins, their vocalizations are harmonically similar to American bluegrass music. The ensemble also utilizes one-of-a-kind instruments in their music, often incorporating their own farming tools as percussion. The Good Ones released their fourth studio album Rwanda...You See Ghosts, I See Sky in 2022.

The ORIGINS series features artists who delve into the folklore and roots of their respective culture's music to tell the story of their origins, preserving and affirming cultural identities and legacies.

About World Music Institute:

Founded in 1985 as a not-for-profit, World Music Institute (WMI) has served as one of the leading presenters of world music and dance within the United States. WMI is committed to presenting the best in traditional and contemporary music and dance from around the world with the goal of inspiring wonder for the world's rich cultural traditions, promoting awareness and appreciation and encouraging cross-cultural dialog and exchange. WMI presents at venues throughout the city and depends on both public and private funding to accomplish its mission.

The program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.