Shema Tattoo Announces Upcoming Song Featuring Bull Dogg and Yampano wa Boi
BY Augustin hategekimana
april 14, 2025
It’s often considered unusual—if not extraordinary—for someone outside the music industry, with no background as a producer or artist, and whose daily work has nothing to do with music, to successfully launch a music career. But as they say, with the right resources and connections, the impossible becomes very possible. That’s exactly the path Shema Tattoo is taking—making waves by releasing music featuring top Rwandan stars who would typically be hard to reach for someone without a solid name in the music business.
Shema Yves, popularly known as Shema Tattoo, is a celebrated tattoo artist who has captured the hearts of many in Kigali and across Rwanda. His journey began back in secondary school during his first year, where he was already practicing the art of drawing—not as a profession yet, but out of pure passion. It wasn’t long before he turned his gift into a career.
Professionally, Shema has now been in the tattoo industry for 7 years. He didn’t start out working independently—instead, he first worked under others to gain experience. It was only after four years that he officially launched his own tattoo business under the brand Shema Tattoo, which he has now been running independently for the past three years.
His move into music wasn’t a random twist of fate. Shema has always been a passionate music lover, and he’s long enjoyed spending time with artists. In fact, he once worked as a disk burner—a person who promotes music by distributing burned CDs—playing a key role in helping many musicians reach a wider audience. Even after stepping away from that role, he continued to build close relationships with artists, often spending time in studios where music was being made. These moments became a major source of inspiration for him, eventually leading him to write his first song.
So far, Shema Tattoo has released two songs, with a third on the way. His debut track, titled Follow Me, featured Misteak, Afrique, and Bushali, and was released on June 10, 2024. Not long after, on December 18, 2024, he dropped his second song, “Wahala”, a collaboration with Dany Nanone and Kenny Sol. Shema writes all his songs himself, though he allows each featured artist to contribute up to 30% of their own ideas and style into the final lyrics and composition.
Now, Shema Tattoo is preparing to release his third track, which, although still untitled and with no official release date, is already generating major buzz. The song will feature Bull Dogg and Yampano wa Boi—two of the hottest names in Rwanda’s music scene right now. According to Shema, these collaborations are intentional; he wants to bring together artists that music fans dream of seeing on the same track. Interestingly, he hinted that a fourth artist will also appear in the song, though he has chosen to keep their identity a secret for now.
He shared:
“Just like I always do, I want to surprise people by bringing unexpected collaborations. Even I was amazed this one happened, so I’ve decided to keep it a surprise until the release.”
One signature of Shema Tattoo’s music releases is that they always come with visuals, and he confirmed that this upcoming track will be no different. Given the hype surrounding the featured artists, fans are eagerly waiting for the video as well.
Many have begun to compare Shema Tattoo to Rwanda’s version of DJ Khaled—not because he sings, but due to the major role he plays in creating and delivering impactful collaborations and music experiences.
In an interview with wiiiiwalk.com, Shema explained how he balances his tattoo business with music:
“They complement each other. The money I invest in music comes from the tattoo business, and music, in turn, helps promote my tattoo brand. It’s a win-win.”
He also pointed out that what he’s doing requires a true entrepreneurial mindset:
“You can’t pull this off if you’re not a businessman. It’s clear now that music in Rwanda involves serious investment.”
In closing, Shema shared his broader vision:
“There’s a new generation of artists with incredible talent, but it’s often hard for them to connect with established musicians. My goal is to serve as a bridge between the two and help them collaborate, even with international artists. That’s my mission.”
With the new song just days away from release, wiiiiwalk will be the first to break the news once it drops. Stay tuned!
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