Butera Knowless

Knowless (born Jeanne d’Arc Ingabire Butera) is a Rwandan singer and a winner of Primus Guma Guma Super Star seasons 5 (PGGSS).^[1] Butera writes many of her own songs. Her songs touch on such themes as romantic relationships, societal issues and daily life.^[2]

Butera Knowless
Born	Jeanne d’Arc Ingabire Butera Ruhango
Origin	Rwanda
Genres	R&B Afrobeats
Occupation	Singer
Instrument	Vocals
Years active	2011 - present
Labels	Kina Music
Spouse	Ishimwe Clement
Website	www.instagram.com/buteraknowless

History

Early years and background

Jeanne d’Arc Ingabire Butera^[3] was born in Ruhango District, and is the wife of Ishimwe Clement. She is the only child of Jean-Marie Vianney Butera and Marie Claire Uyambaje, who are both deceased. Her mother was the lead singer in a local Seventh-day Adventist church choir. Butera attended ESCAF primary school in Nyamirambo, APARUDE secondary school in Ruhango and APACE secondary school in Kigali with a focus on computer sciences and management. As a teenager she sang in the local choir. In 2012 she began to pursue a university degree at Kigali Institute of Science and Technology.^[4] In 2019, she graduated with an MBA at the Oklahoma Christian University. She is a mother of two girls named Or & Inzora Butera.

Musical career

Knowless released her debut album, Komeza, in December 2011.^[4] Her second album, Uwo Ndiwe, was released in March 2013.^[5] Knowless is managed under the label Kina Music.^[6]

She has performed throughout Rwanda and in neighboring countries, including Uganda,^[2] and has collaborated with Rwandans Danny, Mc Tino, Paccy, Ciney, Jay Polly, Kamichi and Urban Boyz, and the Ugandan group Vampos. She has named Belgium-based Rwandan musician Cecile Kayirebwa and American R&B singer-songwriter Brandy Norwood as her inspirations.^[4] In 2021 she released an album called Inzora.^[7]

Private life

Her husband is Clement and they have two daughters.

Awards

Knowless won "Best New Artiste" in the 2010 Salax Awards competition.^[2] In August 2013, she took third place in the annual Primus Guma Guma Super Star talent competition, held at Amahoro Stadium.^[8] In March 2013 she won her second Salax Award, this time in the category of "Best Female Artist".^[5]

In 2013, Knowless was one of three Rwandan acts to perform at the "Rwanda Day" event held in London.^[9] In 2015, Knowless Butera won the Primus Gumma Gumma Superstar 5th Edition, and she is the first woman to win such a competition.^[10]