It was an afternoon of musical performances, poetry, live painting and comedy at the ‘Beats and Poetry’ show at The Office in Kiyovu on Saturday.

Organised by ‘The Art House,’ the event brought together over 20 local and regional artistes including poets, guitarists, drummers, singers and songwriters. Also, art lovers turned up in big numbers to support their favourite artistes.

Rwanda based Jamaican arts lover Donnalee Donaldson and Ugandan-based comedian, Omara Daniel Pkwiiyuli, the emcees of the day worked perfectly well as no reveler was left un-entertained.

The crowd enjoyed different sets of poetry and performances from rising artistes like Lisa Umulisa, Teta Miranda, Derick Marvin, Patience Iribagiza, K-Roll, Weya Viatora and J-Dub, among others.

Natasha Muhooza, Naleli Diana Rugege and Eliane Umuhire wowed the audience with their poems. With help from a poet, talented Willy Karekezi from Uburanga art gallery did a 6-minute live painting, followed by Angel Umutoni who recited a poem called ‘Peace of Mind’ and finally Mike Kayihura, Eric One Key and Jason Ntaro did music, poetry and free-style rapping.

With the help of Ugandan drummer Mark Hitter Ejukua, Nigerian poet Ife Piankhi added flavour to what was an otherwise electrified audience with her eclectic fusion of spoken word, jazz, reggae and soul sending the crown into an excited frenzy.

Donaldson, one of the emcees and also a member on the event’s organising committee, said the event was all that they had wished for.

"We got good feedback about the performances. Some young people got the opportunity to experience the stage for the first time and definitely got exposure to the big number of people. There is really great talent among Rwandan people, yet there’s much more needed to be done including organizing such events,” she noted.

The next event will be in three months time.