JOHN CHRIS is an artist with multiple faces, a clear lesson for those having doubts about the cultural riches of the small country called BURUNDI.
John is a composer and an interpreter; he is the captain a well known group in Belgium and the whole Europe which is called SABO DRUMMERS.
Born in 1973 in Bujumbura from a modest family, he is full of good common sense, wisdom and humour. MUSIC ! He is fond of it from his young age. Like all the children of his country, he plays at fabricating his own guitar and other music instruments with worn out tools. "I wanted to understand the whole working of the system. That is my character", he insists.
He learned with the great masters of drums at Giheta (BURUNDI) where learns mastering that particular instrument. He now masters the historical and the physical language of dance of that instrument.
He discovers the scene thanks to the Imboneza Group from Buja where he demonstrates his talents as dancer choreographer. He participates at many performances in schools all over Burundi, with a group of youngsters. After his high school (A level) at the Saint-Esprit College in Bujumbura, he goes to Belgium where he studies chemistry at University but he keeps on playing music.
He is aware of the necessity to reach a large public, while singing in Kirundi, the national language of his country of origin. His first album, Garuka (come back), made in 1998 is a good combination of the melodies from the Great Lakes Region and sounds from elsewhere. Since 1997, he plays with artists with big names, like Khadja Nin, Axel Red, Jef Bodart and many others. Garuka describes life with its side of suffering but also of love with strong words, verbs which carefully chosen; he knows well how to do that.
John Chris was able to connect Burundi traditional rythms to modern pop music. The title Igisiga with which he provokes the enthusiasm of youngsters from his country, expresses in the language of those youngsters their dreams and problems.
The album Dunia is the continuation of the previous one; it demonstrates the willingness of the artist to rise on the international scenery.




Simon Moussi - Couleurs Locale