KIGALI, Aug 18, 2022 (AFP) – Tributes poured in Wednesday (Aug 17) for Yvan Buravan, a top Rwandan R&B singer who died aged 27 of pancreatic cancer, fans and fellow musicians hailing his talent and “genuinely good energy”.

Buravan died in India, where he was receiving treatment for the illness after visits to hospitals in Rwanda and Kenya failed to help.

“It is with unimaginable sadness that we announce to you the untimely passing of our beloved Yvan Buravan,” his management said in a statement.

“Yvan Buravan was a genuine soul that radiated happiness to everyone around him. He motivated all of us to love our Country and our Culture.”
The young star’s untimely passing unleashed a flood of tributes from across East Africa.

“Buravan’s passing feels so personal to everyone because that is what genuinely good energy does,” Rwandan musician Sheryl Uwase said on Twitter.

“His music was deeply rooted in such jovial energy and his personality matched that too. What a gloomy day.”

Top Tanzanian rapper AY, who collaborated with Buravan on their remix of the hit single “Just a dance”, said: “I mourn you till I Join You. Rest in
peace Lil Bro.”

The International Organisation of La Francophonie, a cooperative body that represents mainly French-speaking states around the world, paid tribute to “an artist who died so young and whose talent will be remembered”.

In 2018, Buravan won the “Prix Decouvertes RFI” contest, a reality TV competition featuring musicians from across Africa.