Irving Ruragahiye
Empowering Leaders
Irving Ruragahiye
DJ | RADIO HOST | EVENT ORGANIZER | YOUTH WORKER
In 2015, as violence swept through Burundi, Irving spent every Saturday broadcasting worship music at a radio station in Bujumbura. The station was located in one of the most dangerous areas of the city, but the personal risk was worth it for Irving. His heart was on fire to transform Burundi for Jesus.
Just five years earlier, Jesus was not part of Irving’s life. He was living to pursue fame, and he was gaining recognition as one of Burundi’s most promising DJs. Then his dad got sick, and as his world began to crumble, God reached out and captivated his heart. Irving’s life changed, but his talents only continued to grow, and he began using them to grow God’s Kingdom.
Irving started his first radio program, preached in the streets, and helped launch Burundi’s biggest worship festival to promote unity in a conflict zone. By using his music and media skills, Irving’s influence was increasing, and hundreds of young people were being saved. Irving knew that he needed to be equipped to steward his influence well, so he began to study theology, and he applied to join the Abundant Leadership Institute.
When Irving joined ALI in 2020, he was one of the youngest students to ever participate in the program. By faithfully using his God-given abilities, Irving had already begun making a remarkable impact, but through ALI, he was being invested as a leader.
Learning about abundant leadership was transformational, but the turning point for Irving happened during the Empowering Leadership module.
During this module, Irving learned how to multiply impact by empowering others as a servant leader. He combined this lesson with what he learned during the Strategic Planning module to develop innovative mentorship programs. Music gave him a platform, but ALI empowered him to spark a movement.
Irving continues to develop new ways to reach thousands of young people. He started a second radio program, launched an organization to train other Christian artists, and he is highly invested in his church’s youth programs. However, now he approaches these programs with the goal of empowering others to spread a culture of transformation.
Kurumbuka Leadership Solutions exists to empower leaders like Irving. He is an inspirational example of how leaders can use their unique skills to not only spread God’s love but to shape culture and invest in others. He knows he can’t move forward alone, so each day, he prays, “God, you have to go with me, or else I’m not going anywhere.”
Reflecting on his time at ALI, Irving says:
“As a young man, ALI was life-changing. I was empowered, and I learned how to invest in others and empower them – how to be there for their leadership journeys.”
