On May 2, 2025, Rwandan artist David Byiringiro, popularly known as Ross Kana, announced via his Instagram account that he had officially resigned from the music label 1:55 AM Ltd, accusing the label of failing to honor their contractual agreements.
In his statement, Ross Kana said: “I officially resign from 1:55 AM effective immediately, because they did not fulfill what we had agreed upon. The terms we had settled were not met, and that prevented me from reaching the goals I had set as an artist.” He also expressed gratitude for the support he received during their partnership but emphasized that he had decided to seek new opportunities to pursue his dreams in music.
This announcement prompted a swift response from 1:55 AM Ltd, led by Mugarura Kenny, who issued a formal letter titled “Formal Reminder Regarding Contract Termination Procedures.” The letter reminded Ross Kana that the manner in which he resigned was not legally valid and contradicted the agreement signed on December 1, 2023.
In the letter obtained by InyaRwanda, 1:55 AM Ltd reminded Ross Kana that he is still under contract with the company and that there is a specific legal process that must be followed when terminating an agreement. The company stated: “A public statement is not legally sufficient. We require a written letter clearly outlining the reasons for termination, based on the relevant clauses in the signed contract.”
The label also emphasized that both parties are obligated to honor the contract, which includes returning any property, intellectual assets belonging to the company, and reimbursing investments made in Ross Kana’s career.
Ross Kana joined the label in early 2024 and released his debut single “Sesa” on February 2, 2024. He later followed up with another track titled “Mami”, but no significant projects were released afterward, despite expectations from his fans.
Although there are signs that Ross Kana was dissatisfied with his collaboration with 1:55 AM, the company stated that it remains open to peaceful dialogue. However, it insists that any termination must respect the legal agreements in place, in order to protect the reputations of everyone involved.
