A packed Akagera Conference Hall inside the Kigali Conference and Exhibition Village was the best pointer to the Kigali Jazz Junction’s growth curve.
Three years ago when the monthly jazz themed musical gathering debuted at the Kigali Serena Hotel, it only attracted a paltry crowd of 20 people, a far cry from the thousands of revelers that some of the most memorable editions of the Jazz Junction have been known to attract.
Friday night’s concert was a celebration of this milestone reached. In their choice of musicians to entertain, organizers were eager to cater to the jazz junction’s young and older audience alike.
South African musician Ringo Madlingozi was supposed to bring back nostalgic memories from the golden era of South African music, while Uganda’s Bebe Cool would take charge of the jazz junction’s younger crowd.
Although known to most of his Rwandan fans only for his 1997 hit single, Sondela, the crowd anticipation for the singer was rife, right from the build up to the concert.
For Bebe Cool, the question on most lips was that of whether his energetic and rough neck ragga dancehall stage persona would blend into the jazz format.
There was also debate about who of the two would close the show, which Bebe Cool did in the end.
Performances had been scheduled to kick off at 7:30 pm but did not however start until 9:00 pm when Remmy Lubega took to the stage in his usual role as MC. Lubega is also the initiator of the Kigali Jazz Junction.
He started off by recognizing companies, organizations, brands and individuals that have supported the jazz junction through the years. Lubega explained that the forum is not just about partying, but having and consuming great music:
"At the Kigali Jazz Junction we network, know each other, relate, communicate, and celebrate jazz music. We are celebrating what Rwanda is supposed to be in the night. Who says we never party?”
The list of curtain raisers was quite long, as organizers decided to invite all local musicians that had ever graced the jazz junction stage.
However only a few like of them Mani Martin, Patrick Nyamitari and Hope Irakoze performed while others were a no show. Local live band Makumbi Sound opened the performances to a not-so-good sound.
Ringo came on stage at 10:00 pm, but his set took a while to gain momentum, and it was obvious why: Not many people in the audience were familiar with his sounds, with many obviously hearing the songs for the first time. To add to that, he sings strictly in Xhosa, his native language.
But there’s power in a hit song, and Ringo did not wait long before unleashing the one song that at least each of his fans was familiar with.
The whole house cheered in excitement as he started to sing Sondela, with many getting up to groove. When he asked the crowd if they knew the song, the chorused response almost brought the roof down. Ringo promptly gave the excited crowd an encore.
Lubega then invited Clare Akamanzi, the CEO of Rwanda Development Board to hand over certificates of special recognition to a few individuals for their dedication to the jazz junction.
Other notables at the show included US ambassador to Rwanda Peter H. Vrooman and Yvonne Makolo, CEO of RwandAir.
Bebe Cool assumed the stage at 12:30 am, and used his time to not only entertain musically, but also do some charity.
He performed Fire burn dem, Kasepiki and Love you every day before engaging the crowd. However his Gargamel band was nowhere in sight.
Unlike Ringo, Bebe Cool engaged the crowd more, talking charity and love for country among others.
"Only a person who comes to Rwanda will understand why president Kagame has this statement "Visit Rwanda”, or "When I landed in the country I definitely had to find out why most people are happy. It’s because they chose reconciliation to move on and be creative and live life. Thank you for being the example we need in East Africa.”
However the highlight of his performance was when Bebe Cool launched a fundraising drive for one year old Gahima Ella Bright, who is suffering from cerebral palsy and neurodevelopment delay, and who needs $25,000 to fly for treatment in India.
He later pledged $1,000 to the cause, the same amount that was later pledged by Remmy Lubega on behalf of the Kigali Jazz Junction. Members of the audience also took turns to make either contributions or pledges.
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