Rwandan prominent gospel artist Vestine Ishimwe has publicly disclosed for the first time that she attempted suicide amid reports of marital conflicts that reportedly led her to file a case seeking a legal divorce from her husband, Idrissa Jean Luc Ouédraogo.
In a lengthy statement entitled “Ishimwe’s Story,” issued on Friday, September 20, 2026, on her Instagram account, nearly a week after she opened legal divorce proceedings, the artist described her marriage and relationship with her husband as a “wilderness,” while making strong accusations against Ouédraogo.
She alleged that Idrissa was paying trolls to spread what she described as rumours about her family. Among the alleged false speculations, she said, were claims concerning sexuality, accusations branding them scammers and that Ouédraogo built a house for Ishimwe’s biological family.
Ishimwe said the allegations surfaced after Ouédraogo raised suspicions about their newborn baby, allegedly claiming that his wife’s song manager had slept with her.
In response, Ouédraogo addressed the ongoing dispute through local media outlet IGIHE, stating that he faces complex questions and confusion regarding the child. He emphasized that he is seeking factual clarity rather than emotional reasoning, insisting he cannot confirm whether or not he is the biological father until a formal DNA test is conducted.
Ishimwe Vestine is a Rwandan gospel singer and a member of the duo known as Vestine & Dorcas. The two biological sisters, who grew up in a Christian family, became prominent in Rwanda and across the Great Lakes Region through their collaborative gospel songs.
Cracks in the Union Began Just Three Months After Marriage
In January 2025, Ishimwe legally married Idrissa Jean Luc Ouédraogo, a Burkinabè national, in a civil ceremony. They later held their wedding ceremony in July 2025 in what appeared to be a major public event, with news of their marriage making headlines across East African media, according to local reports.
However, only three months after their wedding, Vestine Ishimwe’s relationship with Idrissa Ouédraogo began attracting public attention.
In November 2025, she published a now-deleted Instagram post in which she wrote:
“Today, the life I am living is not the life I chose. I am living in a bad situation, and I didn’t deserve this. I know I made a bad decision in my life, but it’s okay.”
The post sparked speculation among internet users, with many suspecting that the singer was experiencing marital problems, while others suggested that it could have been a publicity stunt. After several hours, the post was deleted from her account, with Ishimwe later denying responsibility and claiming that her account had been hacked.
Nearly a year later, the issue has resurfaced in local media.
In recent weeks, Ishimwe reportedly sought a legal divorce from Idrissa, accusing her husband of hiding from her that he had a wife and children in Burkina Faso.
In her statement, Ishimwe reiterated the allegations and added that she had fallen into what she described as a trap.
In response to the allegations, Idrissa Ouédraogo dismissed the accusations and said he was not willing to divorce Ishimwe, according to local media outlet IGIHE.
The lawyer also said Ouédraogo intended to ask the court to order Ishimwe to identify the child’s whereabouts, saying that he had not yet seen the child since birth.
The first court hearing is scheduled for December 3, 2026, according to local reports.
In her statement, Ishimwe said she regretted falling in love with someone whom she alleged had plans to extinguish her “shining star,” despite receiving advice from her biological family and close friends.
She cited what she described as her partner’s attempts to “switch off” her shining star, including allegedly banning her from organizing and attending events, separating her from her management team, and defaming her.
Despite having endured these challenges and keeping them from her family, Ishimwe said she eventually reached a breaking point and attempted suicide.
“I eventually reached a point where I thought the only way to escape what I was experiencing was to take my own life and leave this world. I thought about it many times,” she said, adding that despite her attempts, she believed God kept stopping her from making such a decision.
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“Sometimes, instead of losing you, God allows you to go through something that breaks you, but ultimately preserves you,” she added.
Ishimwe Values the Advice She Ignored
“For those who are not yet married, be careful of people who come wearing sheep’s clothing while inside they are fierce wolves,” she warned. “Pray continually, and you will have good marriages.”
“Be strong. God loves you, cares about you, and your lives are in His hands. Do not be afraid. He has not forgotten you, and He will make a way for you.”
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