A hip-hop trailblazer has chosen to swap the bustling streets of Brooklyn for the rolling hills of Rwanda. This decision was made by renowned American rapper and narrator Dana Dane along with his spouse, Tana Session.
The pair presently resides on the picturesque hill of Rebero, adjusting to their fresh start in Rwanda and Africa following their move from the United States. While Dana aims to advance his career in filmmaking, Tana is concentrating her efforts on the legal profession.
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Many people walking through the tree-lined, hilly neighborhoods in Kigali’s Kicukiro District may not recognize him, yet Dana Dane is an acclaimed American hip-hop artist famous for hits such as “Nightmares” and “Cinderfella.”
During a seated discussion with
The New Times
In their discussion, the artist and originator talked about his path and shared that he leans towards calling himself a “hip-hop icon” instead of a “legend,” which others often use to describe him.
“I prefer not to use the term ‘legend’—it feels somewhat outdated—but I have been active in this field for quite some years now. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, that’s where my journey began,” he shares, offering insights into both his origins and his lengthy career.
In the United States, Dana Dane, originally named Dana McCleese, is widely recognized. He spent his formative years in the same neighborhood as renowned hip-hop legends such as Slick Rick and numerous other figures who continue to be prominent voices in the music world.
Dane mentions they attended LaGuardia High School together, which is known for its focus on performing arts; this was where he began his journey with hip-hop and graffiti art.
“I gained more recognition at school since I would freestyle raps during lunch breaks and around the neighborhood. Folks knew about me even before they heard of Rick. However, after Rick collaborated with Doug E. Fresh, well—suddenly—he became famous,” he explains.
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Back then, Dane gained recognition for his collaboration with Fame on the track “Dana Dane,” where he used a British accent reminiscent of Slick Rick’s style. This led some people to think he was imitating Slick Rick; however, this wasn’t the case.
“We simply originated from the same social sphere,” explains Dane. Subsequently, he released Nightmares, Cinderfella, along with several other tracks that achieved hit status.
“I was among the earliest rap artists to achieve gold status with Profile Records,” remembers Dane, who has explored various forms of expression beyond just graffiti art, including a six-year stint as host of a hip-hop program on Sirius/XM Satellite Radio.
“All of this was propagated through conversations or when a DJ played your track. You needed to be outdoors, engaging with the audience, and creating a buzz. This is how we established our reputation,” he explains.
Dane remarks that back then, hip-hop wasn’t consistently regarded highly. “Initially, people didn’t consider it serious business; they saw it as a passing trend,” he explains. However, this lack of respect didn’t deter them—they simply proceeded with their passion for making music using turntables, microphones, and cassette tapes. For Dane, it has always been about sharing tales through these mediums, which remains his core focus even today.
A trailblazer during hip-hop’s formative years, Dane has spent more than 30 years in the music business. The rapper from Brooklyn now finds himself setting a new pace in Kigali—not behind the mixing board, but in his residence in Rebero, where he aims to further establish his enduring impact.
When questioned now, he acknowledges that when he first started weaving his narrative rhymes, he never imagined he would become a trailblazer in hip-hop. Moreover, he confesses that he had virtually no anticipation of the fact that he would come to reside in an African nation in the future.
Exploring Rwanda – A haven far from home
In 2021, Dane visited Rwanda as part of a journey encompassing multiple African nations during the coronavirus pandemic.
“I went on safari with my spouse simply for exploration purposes. Our journey took us across several nations, including Rwanda. Upon arriving in Kigali, we couldn’t help but notice the cleanliness and orderliness of the place,” he explains.
The airport was pleasant, the roads were well-maintained, and everything exuded tranquility. Our driver—Tim, I believe—began sharing insights about Rwanda’s history, the genocide, and the nation’s progress since those times. We listened intently, absorbing every word,” Dane remembers.
The interaction with the driver morphed into an impromptu history lesson. The driver began explaining what occurred there and how the nation managed to rebuild itself. As I listened to his tale, I thought to myself—how could such a thing be possible? For something terribly sad to take place, only for the country to rise again and become so remarkable?
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That impression stayed with him. Even after touring game parks in Tanzania, Kenya, and Namibia, Rwanda stood out.
“We traveled to the mountains to observe the gorillas. The journey took four hours, and the following day, we set off at dawn. According to Tim, the gorillas had missed interacting with humans during the pandemic and began approaching people more often,” he remembers.
Certainly enough, we went over the barrier into their area, and bam—they were right there waiting for us. An entire family. It was stunning. I had never witnessed such a sight. Although, I had seen gorillas previously—only in captivity though.
Dane anticipated that the mountain gorillas might smell unpleasant or something similar. However, one of them passed very close to him.
“He was only about three feet away, and it had this aroma of arugula. You know that leafy green vegetable used in salads? Or perhaps it reminded him of pine. Honestly, it wasn’t an unpleasant scent at all. That particular moment stayed with him,” Dane recounts.
Making the move permanent
Upon returning to the United States, the memories of Rwanda persisted. In 2023, they came back with renewed purpose. “Although we had the concept in mind, it still felt somewhat like a fantasy,” he confesses. However, in 2025, the pair decisively took action—moving to Kigali.
Initially, he wasn’t fond of the idea, but his wife was already set on it.
“At first, I wasn’t entirely convinced about the relocation. While my wife was fully supportive and enthusiastic, I remained skeptical. Having spent all of my life in the United States and being an artist whose career thrived there—with my exhibitions and earnings—I had concerns about moving to Rwanda,” explains Dane.
He believed he required some time, yet ultimately he conceded, and they boarded a flight to Kigali—to begin their lives there rather than merely sightseeing.
A new phase: Cinema and narrative techniques
Risk brought about transformation. Well ahead of his relocation, Dana Dane had discreetly established a parallel career in cinema. “For the last 15 years, I’ve been involved with filmmaking. I have directed, produced, acted, and penned screenplays. This even included work in Kenya. Thus, stepping into this new phase was not entirely unfamiliar territory.”
His current enthusiasm stems from the chance to contribute his expertise to Rwanda’s expanding film sector. He observes, “There is significant talent present here. However, what often lacks is direction, teamwork, and technological assistance. This is precisely where I believe I can make a difference.”
To Dane, the realms of filmmaking and hip-hop share similarities. He believes that in hip-hop, they didn’t seek approval; instead, they used whatever equipment was available like microphones and boomboxes. This approach mirrors his perspective on making films—just grab a camera and narrate your tale.
Fostering community engagement and motivating young people
Dane is actively involved with Rwanda’s hip-hop community and youth gatherings. “I participated in a discussion where we talked to emerging musicians about sustainability. Sure, you might amass millions of views, but how does that benefit you? Can you support your family through your artistic work? Those are the questions I’m raising.”
Dane and Tana have adopted Rwanda as their new home, and he mentioned that there isn’t much from his homeland that he misses anymore.
“A person once queried me, ‘Given your current situation in Rwanda, what aspects of America do you find yourself missing?’ Frankly, nothing came to mind—apart from my family, naturally. Perhaps just some almond-studded dark chocolate from the shop where I would usually purchase such treats—that’s really all I could muster up,” he explains.
Dane says they feel right at home and safe in Rwanda. “My wife and I were just talking about this last night. Our longest stay in Africa before this was two months, and now we’ve been in Rwanda two and a half months. I asked her, “How do you feel?” She said, “At home.” I said, “Yeah, me too.”
“We feel at ease here. Our routine closely mirrors what we used to do back home in the United States. We seldom ventured out even there—however, whenever we did explore, it felt wonderfully relaxed,” he explains.
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After their arrival, they have participated in various gatherings where they’ve encountered numerous wonderful individuals.
“I feel secure here. This is not something I can often say about many locations in the U.S.—the sense of security. I cannot recall when I last felt so safe. That makes a significant difference,” he states.
Reflections on Rwanda’s transformation
Dane feels that Rwanda provides valuable insights for the global community, particularly regarding unity and forgiveness. He emphasizes, “For this nation to recover following the events of ’94, people had to forgive one another. This act of forgiveness forms the bedrock upon which recovery was built.”
Still early in his journey as a resident, Dane is not rushing anything. “We’re not running around trying to do everything. We go to small events, meet people, and stay low key. But we’re here, and we’re building.”
He has spent time exploring Rwanda’s film sector, and even though it isn’t massive yet, it presents thrilling possibilities.
The growth continues. There’s space for development. And hip-hop showed me how to construct using whatever resources I have.
“Hip-hop has always been about taking initiative rather than seeking approval. We used whatever we had at our disposal—turntables, microphones, walls, dancefloors—and transformed them into something fresh. My view of filmmaking aligns with this perspective. You don’t require vast resources to create an engaging narrative; all you need is imagination,” he states.
Dana states that his objective is to contribute to realizing this vision locally, especially by collaborating with emerging film directors in order to foster creation and support the expansion of the sector. He emphasizes, “It’s not only about instructing—I’m gaining knowledge as well.” Dana further notes that there are numerous untold narratives from Rwanda and the broader African continent waiting to be shared with the global audience.
“I’ve already encountered several filmmakers here. A few are just beginning their journey, making do with limited resources—primarily short films. Others have gained some recognition. However, each of them possesses ideas—they simply require support, resources, perhaps a touch of mentorship,” he explains.
Message to the Diaspora
Dane indicates that many do so nowadays.
African Americans, similar to individuals from Caribbean nations
As they explore Africa, people are uncovering more than just their heritage; they’re encountering a vastly different reality from its portrayal, brimming with possibilities.
He hopes that more African Americans and Caribbean people will delve into exploring Africa—not merely as tourists, but with a sense of mission. “Should an occasion arise, visit and observe. There’s nothing amiss behind you. I assure you. It only seems that way. Trust me.”
As he establishes himself in Kigali, concentrating on this fresh phase of his life, Dana Dane does not seek the limelight. Instead, he is making room for narratives that hold significance—much as he did during the formative years of hip-hop.
I adore being here. I feel blessed to be present. Now, I am prepared to construct.
Dane, hailing from the core of Brooklyn, has always been inclined to chart his own path rather than following others. He embarked on his hip-hop adventure in the early ’80s, during a period when the genre started gaining significant traction.
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Currently, he aims to broaden his horizons and wisdom across both Rwanda and Africa as a whole, seizing chances to interact with young people throughout the continent, particularly via hip hop culture and community projects.
The focus isn’t on gaining fame or accumulating millions of followers; instead, it’s about leveraging your abilities to build a fulfilling life for both you and those around you.
His transition from hip-hop artist to filmmaker, moving from Brooklyn to Kigali, revolves around adapting to changes and discovering his mission. Although Dana Dane might have departed from the hip-hop scene, he aims to leverage his talents for storytelling through cinema. With determination in his voice, he expresses, “I adore this place. I feel blessed to be here. Now, I’m eager to construct.”
Provided by Syndigate Media Inc. (
Syndigate.info
).
