Knowless (singer)

Jeanne d’Arc Ingabire Butera[2] was born in Ruhango District on 1 October 1990, the only child of Jean-Marie Vianney Butera and Marie Claire Uyambaje, who are both deceased. Her mother was formerly 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.[3]

In 2019, she graduated with an MBA at the Oklahoma Christian University. She is a mother to one child named Or.

Knowless released her debut album, Komeza, in December 2011.[3] Her second album, Uwo Ndiwe, was released in March 2013.[4] Knowless is managed under the label Kina Music.[5]

She has performed throughout Rwanda and in neighboring countries, including Uganda,[1] and has collaborated with numerous artists, including Rwandans Danny, Paccy, Ciney, Jay Polly, Kamichi and Urban Boyz, and Ugandan group Vampos. She has named Belgium-based Rwandan musician Cecile Kayirebwa and American R&B singer-songwriter Brandy Norwood as inspirations.[3]