{{Infobox person | name = Ruyonga | honorific_suffix = | image = | caption = | image_size = | birth_date = | birth_place = Uganda | parents = | spouse = | children = | height = | net_worth = | occupation =Rapper | module = {{Infobox musical artist | embed = yes | genre = {{flatlist|*Hip hop *Gospel }} | label = Kinetic Management | years_active = 2000{{ndash}}present | associated_acts = Undercover Brothers Ug, Jemimah Sanyu | website = {{URL|http://ruyonga.com/}} }} }}
'''Edwin Ruyonga''', known by the mononym '''Ruyonga''' is a Ugandan hip hop and spoken-word musical artist based in the United States.<ref name="monitor">{{cite web |last=Omongin |first=Emmy |date=2013-08-12 |title=Rapper Ruyonga in Victory concert |url=http://www.monitor.co.ug/artsculture/Reviews/Rapper-Ruyonga-in-Victory-concert/-/691232/1944400/-/8rt2htz/-/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303215540/http://www.monitor.co.ug/artsculture/Reviews/Rapper-Ruyonga-in-Victory-concert/-/691232/1944400/-/8rt2htz/-/index.html |archive-date=2016-03-03 |accessdate=21 December 2014 |website=Daily Monitor}}</ref> Ruyonga was one of the pioneering hip-hop acts in Uganda, with his first group winning a nationwide music competition in 2000.
Rawkus Records selected Ruyonga as one of the top 50 artists on the internet, and Rawkus helped release his second solo album, AFRiCAN, in 2007.<ref name="ruyonga">{{cite web |title=ABOUT RUYONGA |url=http://ruyonga.com/ |accessdate=21 December 2014}}</ref> Ruyonga has recorded songs with many artists including Brother Ali and Slug of Atmosphere, and has shared the stage with Lupe Fiasco, K’Naan, Wu Tang Clan, Grieves and Budo (Rhymesayers) and The Roots.
Ruyonga is married to Sheila Yvonne Agaba with whom he has a daughter.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kaggwa |first=Andrew |date=2014-09-30 |title=Wedding: Rapper Ruyonga does the honourable thing for Agaba |url=https://www.observer.ug/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=34113:wedding-rapper-ruyonga-does-the-honourable-thing-for-agaba |access-date=2023-09-20 |website=The Observer - Uganda |language=en-gb}}</ref><ref name="observer">{{cite web |last=Kaggwa |first=Andrew |date=2014-09-30 |title=Wedding: Rapper Ruyonga does the honourable thing for Agaba |url=http://www.observer.ug/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=34113:wedding-rapper-ruyonga-does-the-honourable-thing-for-agaba&catid=39:relationships&Itemid=72 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304062140/http://www.observer.ug/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=34113:wedding-rapper-ruyonga-does-the-honourable-thing-for-agaba&catid=39:relationships&Itemid=72 |archive-date=2016-03-04 |accessdate=21 December 2014 |website=The Observer}}</ref><ref name="chimpreports">{{cite web |last=Nabaasa |first=Monica |date=2014-09-29 |title=Rapper Ruyonga Weds |url=http://chimpreports.com/rapper-ruyonga-weds/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012130747/http://chimpreports.com/rapper-ruyonga-weds/ |archive-date=2017-10-12 |accessdate=21 December 2014}}</ref><ref name="redpepper">{{cite web |date=2014-09-29 |title=Edwin Ruyonga, Sheila Agaba In Private Wedding |url=http://www.redpepper.co.ug/edwin-ruyonga-sheila-agaba-in-private-wedding/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215100752/http://www.redpepper.co.ug/edwin-ruyonga-sheila-agaba-in-private-wedding/ |archive-date=2016-02-15 |accessdate=21 December 2014}}</ref> In 2013, he was on DSTV's list ''African MC's: In a League of their own''.<ref name="dstv">{{cite web |title=African MC's: In a League of their own |url=http://www.dstv.com/News/African-MC-s-In-a-League-of-their-own/58574 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130630015945/http://www.dstv.com/News/African-MC-s-In-a-League-of-their-own/58574 |archive-date=2013-06-30 |accessdate=1 January 2015}}</ref> He has collaborated with fellow Ugandan rappers like The mith, Bigtril, and Zex Bilangilangi. He is also credited for delivering the finest verses in Ugandan cyphers, notably Vuqa cypher.{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}}
==Music== Ruyonga is a gospel rapper who has been based in the United States since 2002. He has worked with artists like JGivens, Magg 44, Enygma, Benezeri, Big Tril, Maurice Kirya, Zex Bilangilangi, Rickman Manrick, Ykee Benda, and Don MC.<ref name="new-vision">{{cite web |title=God Moves - Ruyonga |url=http://www.newvision.co.ug/mobile/Detail.aspx?NewsID=632797&CatID=384 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518111805/http://www.newvision.co.ug/mobile/Detail.aspx?NewsID=632797&CatID=384 |archive-date=2015-05-18 |accessdate=21 December 2014}}</ref> Ruyonga was previously known as Krukid, member of the hip-hop trio A.R.M. (African Rebel Movement/Artists Representing the Motherland), which also included M.anifest (Ghana) and Budo.
He was included in the 2007 Rawkus 50, a list compiled by Rawkus Records of 50 notable hip hop artists.<ref name="thisisafrica">{{cite web |title=Ruyonga lets the East African sound come through on "Tutuuse" |url=http://archived.thisisafrica.me/downloads/detail/19652/ruyonga-lets-the-east-african-sound-come-through-on-tutuuse |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304063045/http://archived.thisisafrica.me/downloads/detail/19652/ruyonga-lets-the-east-african-sound-come-through-on-tutuuse |archive-date=2016-03-04 |accessdate=21 December 2014}}</ref><ref name="bayimbafestival">{{cite web |title=Runyonga |url=http://bayimbafestival.com/runyonga/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801092911/http://bayimbafestival.com/runyonga/ |archive-date=2021-08-01 |accessdate=21 December 2014}}</ref> He recorded the soundtrack for Nana Kagga's 2012 film, The Life. In 2022, he teamed up with rising Stars 1 Der Jr and Zex Bilangilangi and did a hip-hop banger Parte Yaani.
==Discography==
=== Albums ===
* ''Gloryfire'' (2015) * ''Kabalega'' (2024)
=== Singles ===
* ''Remant Revolution'' (2018) * ''Saala'', ft. Ykee Benda (2019) * ''Jim'', ft. Zoe Star (2021) * ''No Job!'' (2021) * ''Muliro'', ft. Coopy Bly (2022) * ''Parte Yani'', ft. Wonder Jr, ZEX BILANGILANGI (2022) * ''Akamuli'', ft. Ray G (2024)
== See also ==
* Levixone * Wilson Bugembe * Betty Nakibuuka * Coopy Bly
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == *[http://hiphopafrican.com/2012/11/28/krukid-ruyonga-sits-down-for-an-interview-with-guerrillacross/ "Krukid Ruyonga sits down for an interview with GuerrillaCross"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304105904/http://hiphopafrican.com/2012/11/28/krukid-ruyonga-sits-down-for-an-interview-with-guerrillacross/ |date=2016-03-04 }} *[http://www.accesskla.com/accesskla/ruyonga-takes-panamera-to-church/ "RUYONGA TAKES PANAMERA"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120182619/http://www.accesskla.com/accesskla/ruyonga-takes-panamera-to-church/ |date=2013-01-20 }}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ruyonga}} Category:21st-century Ugandan male singers Category:Living people Category:Kumusha Category:Performers of Christian hip-hop Category:Year of birth missing (living people)