Knowless Butera Biography: Age, Husband, Parents, Net Worth, Albums, Songs, Kids

Biography

Butera Knowless (born Jeanne d’Arc Ingabire Butera) is a prominent Rwandan singer, songwriter, and one of the most decorated artists in Rwanda’s music scene.

Hailing from Ruhango District, she rose to national fame after winning the Primus Guma Guma Super Star (PGGSS) competition in season 5. Known professionally as Knowless, her stage name is inspired by American R&B artist Beyoncé Knowles.

She writes many of her own songs, blending R&B, Afrobeats, and pop elements with themes of love, relationships, societal issues, and everyday life. With a strong presence across platforms like Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Music, her popular tracks include “Ntacyo,” “Umutima,” “Te Amo” (feat. Roberto), “Uzitabe,” and collaborations such as “Katira” with Ariel Wayz.

She has performed widely in Rwanda and neighboring countries, and describes herself as the “Most Decorated Artist In Rwanda” on social media. Knowless is married to music producer Ishimwe Clement and remains a leading voice in East African music.

Rwandan singer-songwriter
Knowless Butera
Wiki Facts & About Data
Real Name:	Jeanne d’Arc Ingabire Butera
Stage Name:	Knowless Butera
Born:	1 October 1990 (age 35 years old)
Place of Birth:	Ruhango District, Rwanda
Nationality:	Rwandan
Education:	ESCAF Primary School, APARUDE Secondary School, APACE Secondary School, Kigali Institute of Science and Technology, Oklahoma Christian University
Height:	N/A
Parents:	Jean-Marie Vianney Butera, Marie Claire Uyambaje
Siblings:	N/A
Spouse:	Clement Ishimwe (m. 2016)
Boyfriend • Partner:	Not Dating
Children:	Ishimwe Inzora Butera
Occupation:	Singer • Songwriter
Net Worth:	$500,000-$1 million (USD)

Early Life & Education

Jeanne d’Arc Ingabire Butera, professionally known as Knowless (or Butera Knowless), was born on 1 October 1990 in Ruhango District, Southern Province, Rwanda. She is Rwandan of Tutsi ethnicity and grew up in a musically inclined Christian family with strong Seventh-day Adventist roots.

Knowless is the only child of the late singer Jean-Marie Vianney Butera and the late Marie Claire Uyambaje, who served as the lead singer in a local Seventh-day Adventist church choir.

Both parents passed away, and her immediate family was heavily impacted by the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. From a young age, she was immersed in music and sang in the local church choir as a teenager.
She completed primary school at ESCAF Primary School in Nyamirambo (Kigali).

For secondary education, she attended APARUDE Secondary School in Ruhango, followed by APACE Secondary School in Kigali, where she studied computer sciences and management.

In 2012, she began university studies at the Kigali Institute of Science and Technology (KIST). She later earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Oklahoma Christian University in the United States in 2019.

Career

Knowless Butera, whose full name is Jeanne d’Arc Ingabire Butera, is one of Rwanda’s most celebrated female singers. Inspired by her late father, Jean-Marie Vianney Butera, she started singing as a teenager in her local Seventh-day Adventist church choir.

She began her professional career in the late 2000s and quickly gained attention with her debut single, winning Best New Artist at the Salax Awards in 2010. Her first album, Komeza, came out in December 2011, followed by Uwo Ndiwe in March 2013.

As part of Kina Music, Knowless writes many of her own songs, mixing R&B, Afrobeats, pop, and Rwandan styles. Her music often touches on love, relationships, social issues, heartbreak, and everyday life, and she is known for her strong voice, energetic performances, and dancing.

In 2013, she finished third in the Primus Guma Guma Super Star (PGGSS) competition, and in 2015, she became the first woman to win PGGSS Season 5. This achievement raised her profile across Rwanda and the region, leading to more performances, collaborations, and commercial success.

Over the years, she has released many singles and projects, including hits like “Te Amo” (with Roberto), “Ntacyo“, “Umutima“, “Uzitabe” / “Uzagaruke“, “Ko Nashize“, “Uwo Uzakunda“, “Darling” (with Ben Pol), “Day to Day“, “Peke Yangu“, “Akantu” (with Social Mula), and “Nzaba Mpari“.

She has worked with artists such as Roberto, Ben Pol, Nel Ngabo, Platini P, Bruce Melodie, Social Mula, and Aline Gahongayire, helping her reach audiences in Rwanda, Uganda, Congo, and East Africa. Knowless has won several awards, including multiple Salax Awards—she made history in 2014 by winning several in one night—and is often named Best Female Artist.

She has performed at major events, concerts, regional tours, and international shows, and remains active on platforms such as YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music. Her recent work in 2024 and 2025 includes new singles, live shows like The Silver Gala, and regional appearances.

Knowless, who often calls herself the “Most Decorated Artist in Rwanda,” continues to influence the music industry through her work, mentoring new artists, and supporting her community. She is married to producer Ishimwe Clement, who has co-written many of her songs, and she balances her music career with family and charity work in Rwanda.

Social Media

• Wikipedia: Butera Knowless
• YouTube: Butera Knowless
• Facebook: Butera Knowless
• Instagram: Butera Knowless (@buteraknowless)
• Twitter: Butera Knowless (@Knowless1butera) / X

Personal Life

Knowless Butera, born Jeanne d’Arc Ingabire Butera on 1 October 1990 in Ruhango District, Rwanda, is currently 35 years old.

She has been married only once, since August 2016, to music producer Ishimwe Clement, founder of Kina Music, who has been her longtime partner, manager, and collaborator since they began dating around 2011.

Knowless Butera and her husband, Ishimwe Clement, have three daughters together. Their first child, a daughter named Ishimwe Or Butera (often simply referred to as Or), was born in November 2016, shortly after their marriage. Their second daughter, Ishimwe Inzora Butera (meaning “a full moon” in Kinyarwanda), arrived in early 2021, around February or early that year. Their third daughter was born in early 2023 (announced around March), though her specific name has not been widely publicized in available sources.

Her exact height is not publicly documented or disclosed.

Net Worth

Knowless Butera‘s net worth is estimated at around $500,000 to $1 million.

This figure reflects her successful career as one of Rwanda’s leading female artists, spanning music sales, streaming revenue from platforms like YouTube and Spotify, live performances across East Africa, brand endorsements (including past deals with brands like Itel), competition prizes such as her Primus Guma Guma Super Star win, and other ventures.

Sources highlight her luxurious lifestyle, including ownership of high-end properties, such as a villa in Nyamata, and expensive cars, underscoring her status among the country’s wealthiest musicians.

Estimates vary due to the private nature of celebrity finances in Rwanda, with some online analytics focusing on her YouTube earnings (around $40,000–$80,000 from the channel alone) and broader annual income projections exceeding $200,000 from multiple streams.

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