Four years later, the Brooklyn rap legend and his wife, are celebrating their first year as residents of Kigali, a move they say has transformed not only where they live, but how they see the world.

For Dana Dane, a defining figure of hip-hop's golden era, the journey to Rwanda represents a new chapter in a life already filled with milestones.

Widely regarded as one of the pioneers of 1980s hip-hop, the 60-year-old launched his career alongside childhood friend and fellow rap icon Slick Rick as part of the Kangol Crew before releasing his groundbreaking 1987 debut album Dana Dane with Fame. The album became the first solo rap project by a Brooklyn artist to earn Gold certification, while songs such as Nightmares and Cinderfella Dana Dane cemented his reputation as one of rap's greatest storytellers.

Today, instead of navigating the streets of Brooklyn or Hollywood, the rapper, filmmaker and producer spends much of his time overlooking Kigali's rolling hills, collaborating with local creatives and imagining what Rwanda's growing film industry could become.

A holiday that changed everything

In a recent exclusive interview with IGIHE, the couple revealed that the idea of moving to Africa had long been part of their conversations. Ghana, Kenya and South Africa were all on their list of possibilities. Rwanda wasn't.

In fact, their first trip here happened almost by chance.

"I saw the gorilla trekking promoted on Instagram," Dr. Tana recalls. "My husband thought I was crazy."

Like many first-time visitors from abroad, much of what they knew about Rwanda came from popular culture.

"The only thing we knew about Rwanda was Gorillas in the Mist, Hotel Rwanda and, of course, the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi," Dana Dane says.

They arrived with few expectations.

Landing after dark, they travelled straight to Volcanoes National Park before embarking on what they describe as a once-in-a-lifetime gorilla trekking experience.

But it was what happened after that unforgettable encounter that surprised them most.

During a short tour of Kigali before catching their flight home, the couple found themselves captivated by a city they knew almost nothing about.

The clean streets, modern infrastructure, lush greenery and use of technology, including intelligent traffic monitoring systems, challenged many of the assumptions they had carried with them.

"As we got on the plane to leave," Dr. Tana recalls, "we turned to each other and said we could see ourselves living here one day."

That conversation happened after only two days in Rwanda.

Taking a leap of faith

By early 2025, they decided to stop talking about moving and simply do it.

Their plan was modest.

They would spend three months in Rwanda. If it wasn't the right fit, they would move on to another African country.

That backup plan never became necessary.

"We've visited other countries since we've been here," D. Tana says, "and we keep saying we made the right choice."

The couple says several factors influenced their decision to leave the United States.

Dana points to America's increasingly divisive political climate, while both describe wanting a slower pace of life and a stronger sense of belonging.

"Being here was very calming," he says. "Being in Africa and just seeing all the people that look like us."

After taking ancestry tests that traced Dana Dane's roots to Gabon and Dr. Tana's to Cameroon, relocating to Africa also carried a deeper personal significance.

One phrase, however, best captures how they describe the emotional difference.

"We felt celebrated and not tolerated."

While both speak warmly about the United States, they say Rwanda has given them something they had been searching for over many years: a genuine feeling of acceptance.

"No one's made us feel like we were strangers or foreigners," Dr. Tana says.

Breaking misconceptions

Dana Dane believes one of the biggest surprises has been discovering how welcoming Rwanda, and Africa more broadly, has been.

"There's been a big misconception as Black Americans that Afro Blacks are not welcoming in Africa," he says.

"Being here, I just want Americans to know that you are welcome in Africa as a Black American."

That welcoming atmosphere, they say, extended beyond local residents.

They also discovered a thriving community of Black Americans already living in Rwanda, something neither had expected before relocating.

"That has been priceless for our transition," says Dr. Tana.

Seeing a country with a plan

Beyond the warm reception, the couple says they were impressed by Rwanda's long-term vision.

Dr. Tana, whose career spans more than three decades in human resources, organisational development and executive coaching, was struck by what she describes as a country with a clear roadmap for the future.

Dana Dane points to Rwanda's long-term national development strategies as another reason they chose to stay.

"My wife is big on plans," he notes. "She saw there was a plan in place for the country."

Watching Rwanda progress toward its vision of becoming a high-income country by 2050 has convinced them they arrived at an exciting moment in the country's growth.

Creating instead of retiring

Rather than slowing down, Dana Dane says Rwanda has sparked a new wave of creativity.

While continuing to produce films for international audiences, he has immersed himself in Rwanda's entertainment industry.

He has already begun collaborating with local filmmakers and artists, seeing enormous potential despite the industry's relatively young stage of development.

"I've already partnered with a lot of Rwandan filmmakers and entertainers," he reveals. "We're learning from each other and creating something incredible."

He believes Rwanda has all the ingredients needed to become a major creative hub, provided filmmakers receive greater investment and opportunities to produce feature-length films.

Among his new projects is Break Da Banc Live, a game show he recently started filming on the streets of Rwanda.

He also hopes to collaborate with Rwandan musicians.

Investing in people

For Dr. Tana, Rwanda's greatest resource isn't its scenery or infrastructure. It's its young people.

Having spent decades developing leaders and organisations, she says she has been inspired by the country's emerging generation of professionals.

"We've met so many very young civil engineers that are building apartment buildings, hotels and homes," she says.

"They're younger than our kids."

She hopes to combine her newly earned law degree with her experience in leadership development, executive coaching and human resources to mentor young professionals while undertaking pro bono work focused on human and civil rights, particularly gender equity.

She is equally inspired by the visibility of women in leadership, with women holding a world-leading 63.8% of seats in Rwanda's parliament alongside significant representation in the cabinet.

"The things I've connected to with Rwandan culture is that women are leaders here," she remarks, pointing to women's strong representation in government and business.

Learning, adapting and embracing home

Like any international move, settling into Rwanda came with challenges.

Learning Kinyarwanda remains the biggest one.

Dana Dane made it a priority to master simple expressions such as "Murakoze" (thank you), believing that courtesy creates instant connections.

For Dr. Tana, using Google Translate and embracing mistakes has helped smooth the transition.

"When people see you're trying," she says, "they'll try to meet you there."

But what stands out most after a year isn't what felt unfamiliar. It's what now feels like home.

The couple speaks enthusiastically about Rwanda's sense of safety, efficient public services, simplified business registration, affordable cost of living and fresh food.

Simple pleasures now define their routine: morning coffee overlooking Kigali's hills, creative work during the day and evenings spent with friends or attending cultural events.

"I take walks up these beautiful hills. The Thousand Hills give a thousand views," Dana Dane says.

Looking ahead, neither plans to leave.

Watch the full conversation with hip-hop icon Dana Dane and Dr. Tana as they share how a gorilla trek led to a new life in Rwanda.