Local artistes thrill revelers at the car-free zone

The car-free zone in the Central Business District in the capital Kigali has become a major venue for social events as more people continue to come up with innovative ideas on how to utilize the public space.

Friday, May 13, 2016
The RnB duo of TMC and Platini perform during the Thursday show at the car-free zone. (Julius Bizimungu)

The car-free zone in the Central Business District in the capital Kigali has become a major venue for social events as more people continue to come up with innovative ideas on how to utilize the public space.

When the City of Kigali created the car-free zone in August last year, some people did not appreciate its significance, but with time people have started realising the need for such spaces.

The space has become a preferred place for organizers of events like get-togethers, entertainment concerts, art exhibitions and fitness clinics among others.

And the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Africa meeting which ended in Kigali, yesterday, was another opportunity to utilize the car-free zone.

The venue was packed to capacity. (Julius Bizimungu)

Many companies used the opportunity to host a series of events to entertain not only the WEF delegates, but also the local people.

On Thursday, local artistes, including Dream Boys, Bruce Melodie, and Christopher Muneza entertained revelers at the car-free zone.

It was a well attended event and the revelers enjoyed every bit of performance from the duo—Dream Boys who were the first to entertain those who attended before Christopher, and Bruce Melodie followed.

The artistes gave visitors a taste of modern Rwandan music.

The show kicked off at 7pm with a performance from the local RnB group performing songs like Uzamubwire, Data ni Inde, Urare Aharyana, and Uzambarize Mama, to mention but a few.

The show also featured local comedians, Arthur Nkusi and Babou, who cracked people’s ribs with their crazy jokes.

Bruce Melodie and Christopher closed the show with charming performances. The two took to the stage together and performed their hit songs like Ntundize, Babyumva, Ntujya Unkinisha, Umutwe, Dutegereje Iki, Tubivemo, Uwo Munsi, and Abasitari, among others.

Artistes entertained the revelers until midnight. (Julius Bizimungu)

Together with Kesho Band, one of the biggest bands in town, their performance saw the revelers sing and dance along with them.

Some of the revelers interviewed said that such concerts should always be organised.

"We would like to have such shows at least every week, this is so entertaining and we really believe this can promote our local music industry”

"Let’s not only have them when there’s something special coming to Rwanda,” said René Kamanzi, one of the excited revelers.

South African Laban Nkosi Siphiwe said, "I love Rwanda to bits. It is a beautiful country with beautiful people. That is all I can say.”

editorial@newtimes.co.rw