The local entertaiment industry never disappoints when it comes to producing showbiz news and gossip and the past week was no exception.

The New Times looks at the showbiz stories that made headlines last week.

The Just Family ‘never say die’

There are signs that ‘Just Family’, one of Rwanda’s most popular music groups, could hit the stage anytime soon after two of its former members, Chris and Jimmy, announced their plans to return to the music scene.

The duo, who now live in the United States, agreed to go back to studio together and revive what they had as one of the A-list performers at big concerts in Rwanda.

Just Family has never been the same since lead singer Croidja moved to South Africa in 2012 to focus on his fashion business.

His relocation to South Africa left the once revered group in shambles and many believed his departure marked the end of the group, which had not released any track until remaining group members Jimmy and Bahati, brought on board Chris to fill Croidja’s gap.

Chris enjoyed his days with Just Family but he did not last longer after controversially quitting the group in 2018, accusing Bahati of taking all the group’s revenues.

His absence was, however, never felt at all after it coincided with the return of Croidja to the group in 2018. Unfortunately, his return to South Africa two years later saw the group again disbanded with Bahati’s focus now turned in filmmaking while Jimmy left the country to live in the United States.

Two years later, Jimmy wanted to resuscitate the group alongside old pal Chris while in America with the duo now ready to drop a single together anytime from now.

Tribute to gospel music diva Precious Gisele

The creative industry is going through a tough moment of setbacks and loss of its dearest creatives.

With musician Yvan Buravan and famous video jockey Yanga gone a month ago now, family and friends are now mourning the passing of female gospel musician Precious Gisèle Nsabimana who died on Thursday, September 15, aged 27.

Although the cause of the death is not known yet, The New Times understands that the singer breathed her last after falling in a bathroom at home.

Her death comes just two weeks after giving birth to her first and only child.

It is a sad moment for the singer’s husband with whom they spent just one year together.

May she rest in peace.

Kalimpinya’s motorsport adventure

She came to the limelight when she was vying for the 2017 Miss Rwanda crown where she ended up as a third runner-up but Queen Kalimpinya is proving to be more than a beauty queen.

Optimistic and ambitious, the beauty queen has since stretched her paths, tapping into motorsport and making a big debut on the race track.

Kalimpinya is finding a new adventure in motorsport as she celebrates her first year in the game.

She is set to race in the 'Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally' where she will be the first Rwandan and lone woman to compete in this important car race in Rwanda which is part of the African Championship calendar.

It is, however, not her first time racing, having previously participated in the "Sprint Rally All Star 2022” held in Rwamagana District in March and Nyirangarama Sprint Rally which took place in May.

Kalimpinya is the second Rwandan woman motorsport racing driver since Naomi Schiff who has been a motorsport racing driver for about a decade until she landed a deal to join Sky Sports as a commentator for Formula One’s new show ‘Any Driven Monday’

Her participation in the motorsport could inspire more young women to follow in her footsteps.

Mr Eazi eager to invest in Rwandan football

With what music has given him, Mr Eazi has his eyes set on investing his money in Rwandan football.

The Nigerian musician and businessman, born Oluwatosin Ajibade, was last week spotted at Kigali Stadium supporting Rayon Sports from the stands – along with club president, Jean Fidele Uwayezu – during their 2-0 victory over Rwamagana.

The ‘Leg Over’ hit maker was in Rwanda last year to explore areas of investment and business opportunities in the country where he particularly expressed his interest in Rwanda's creative, e-payments and gaming sectors.

The New Times has established that the singer, through his betting company BetPawa, wants to inject his cash in local football with Rayon Sports and Ferwafa his potential targets to discuss a possibility to work with.

Talks are now ongoing with the pair before he decides where to put his cash.

We will keep you updated.

Bwiza’s sex tape affair draws attention

Social media users in the country went abuzz ever when one Kasuku who uses ‘Jay Squeezer’ on Instagram posted that he would share a three-minute sex tape that features singer Bwiza.

However, delaying leaking the tape, people say, is already giving them doubts and wondering whether the blogger made up a prank for showbiz purposes although Bwiza and her management deny the prank reports.

But if the tape is real, Kasuku could be putting himself in danger of facing the law as threatening to post someone else’s sex tape online is blackmail, a crime punishable by the Rwandan law upon conviction, and posting it could get you jailed for cyber stalking too.