Life & Work with JOHN NTIBONERA of Nashville

Today we’d like to introduce you to JOHN NTIBONERA

Hi JOHN , we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
John Ntibonera known as ( congo cowboy )is a country Artist singer-songwriter, storyteller , philanthropist and a believer of Jesus originally from the democratic republic of congo. John has received recognition by the world prominent listening room for songwriters in Nashville BlueBird Cafe “January 2025 Golden pick winner Songwriter of the month for his new song “Congo Cowboy”. In 2023 John was invited at Bluebird cafe to play alongside 4 times Grammy award winner songwriter Josh Kearl, the writer of “ Need you Now” by Lady A country group. He has also shared the stage with Zack Kale, writer and producer at Sony Music Publishing, and a writer of country artist Ella Langley . John incorporates elements from country music, mixed with his Congo African sound into his work. John is also a member of a worship team at World Outreach church by Pastor Allen Jackson in Murfreesboro TN , under the music leadership of Steven V. Taylor a 12 time Dove award winning producer, arranger and songwriter . As a former refugee, John Ntibonera moved to the USA with his family from the Democratic Republic of Congo during his teenage years escaping one of the deadliest war in the congo but by the Grace of God John and the family were able to survive,During the tough times, we saw God, we saw his miracles happening in our lives, he came to our rescue. Now John is living in the music city Nashville Tennessee. He began singing and writing songs at an early age as a means to survive refugee life . John’s first experience wearing shoes in the Congo occurred when he was nine years old, as he had previously fled war without shoes. After settling in the United States, John and his brother founded the Ntibonera Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing shoes and humanitarian supplies to the people of Congo, The foundation’s long-term objective is to establish a shoe factory, generating employment opportunities, alleviating poverty, and enabling children to attend school.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Music journey has not been smooth at all, of cause obstacle and challenges are always there but i have been learning from them to get better every day. Some of the challenges is financial to support my music. Nashville is a very expensive place to record music , marketing and promotion since its the world of music capital.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a singer songwriter as well as a co-founder of a non profit organization called Ntibonera Foundation. My charity organization provides shoes for the children who are still suffering in the congo DRC because of war. I have been able to travel around doing benefits concert to raise money for my charity organization . Since 2017, my charity organization we have delivered 150,000 pairs of shoes for the congolease people in refugee camps as well as villages . My organization is also working on buiding shoes manufucturing in the congo that will help reduce poverty and create employment opportunity. I use my music to be a voice for the voiceless congolease children. Since 1998 its been almost more than 6 million congolease children have died because of an ending war, i fled war at a young age , I have seen rebels in the congo slaughtering congolease children and woman. Congo is the richest country on earth when it comes to natural resources , 80 % of the worlds cobalt that powers all our electronics devices in the world like computers, Apples, cellphones , Tesla , samsong. planes, Jets , diamonds, gold, coltan all is found from the congo but it has never benefit the people there but only thing they have benefited is dealth and fleeing.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://johnntibonera.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnntibonera/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000464444203
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Johnntibonera
• Soundcloud: https://open.spotify.com/track/54t48S9GZQFBBvO1CgxOjx?si=e67727491b534949