Most of Rwanda’s entertainment events have for years been struggling to live to the hype due to low turn up or poor advertising strategies, among other things.
However, 2019 has been different as local music event organisers turned previous failures into success. Their experience helped them organize successful music events, gospel or secular, following huge turn-ups which would at some occasions see some venues get sold out.
Many shows were organised throughout the year, but Sunday Magazine’s Eddie Nsabimana takes you back to the most memorable ones.
Worshiping with Don Moen
Don Moen is a musician who Rwandans had waited to see perform live for years and the wait was over when the American Gospel legend became the main act at the MTN Praise Fest in February.
When the concert was announced two months earlier, it looked like the concert would be massive, and, yes, it lived up to the hype. It is believed that the number of people who wished but were unable to attend the show is bigger due to the issue of space.
At 68, Moen proved that his energy and stamina are still intact, performing almost 20 songs in a show most won’t forget soon.
The Burna Boy Xperience
By the time event organisers confirmed that Nigerian pop sensation Burna Boy was coming to Kigali in March, his fans were already excited.
Today, Burna Boy is perhaps Africa’s musician of the year, enjoying massive airplay from across the continent.
The ‘On The Low’ singer lived up to the hype at the Intare Conference Arena in Rusororo, endearing himself to the young and old, in a show that left many wanting more.
The concert will go down in the entertainment history books as one of the most attended music gigs Kigali has ever seen and by far, the biggest music fete the ultra-modern events and conference facility has hosted since it was opened in June 2017.
Gentil Misigaro’s homecoming gospel concert
When he realised that his music was rocking the airwaves in the country and gaining more popularity among Christians, Canada-based gospel singer decided to launch his debut album ‘Hari Imbaraga’ in Rwanda.
Hopefully, the singer won’t forget the love and welcome expressed by his fans who turned up for his concert at the Kigali Conference and Exhibition Village in huge numbers.
From the moment he hit the stage, Misigaro was showered with love and adulation by his fans until the curtains fell.
His album launch was one of the biggest gospel concerts of 2019.
Iwacu Muzika festival
When you talk about ‘Iwacu Muzika Festival’, people remember fast rising music star Emmanuel Nsengiyumva, aka Igisupusupu, rather than Tanzania bongo flavour star; Diamond Platnumz.
The singer topped the showbiz news headlines this year, following his fast rise to the music scene as his songs dominated the local radio airwaves.
His popularity made festival organisers pick him as the lone artiste to perform at each of the music festival’s upcountry roadshows and revellers at the National Stadium almost forgot that celebrated Platinumz was next on stage, thanks to ‘Igisupusupu’ energy on the stage.
Iwacu Muzika festival was organized by East African Promoters (EAP) in partnership with Bralirwa, and the Ministry of Sports and Culture among other partners, to give local artists an opportunity to boost their fan base by reaching out to their fans from across the country through roadshows and also give a platform for home-grown artistes to expose their talents at big shows.
The festival, which is going to be annual, has proven to be one of the most attended in 2019, given the hype it brought to not only Kigali concert-goers but also music lovers from across the country.
'Celebrating Gorillas' with Ne-Yo
American RnB singer Ne-Yo must have been surprised by the kind of fanbase he has in Rwanda. It is believed that more than 500 people could not get into Kigali Arena as the venue’s capacity was too small to accommodate everyone.
It was the pop singer’s first performance ever on Rwandan soil as he headlined the ‘Kwita Izina’ Concert, an annual entertainment event organized by Rwanda Development Board (RDB) as part of the initiative to raise awareness and funds for ‘Gorilla conservation’.
The music star also attended the gorilla gaming ceremony on the eve of the concert.
For a man who many thought was well past his best days, Ne-Yo put up a performance that proved that while he might not be topping the charts today, he still has the qualities that make him the superstar he is.
The concert also featured the performances of local music stars Charly na Nina, Bruce Melodie, rapper Riderman and US-based singer Meddy.
Attended by President Paul Kagame and being the first concert ever held at the recently inaugurated state-of-the-art Kigali Arena plus the sold-out tickets ranks the show among the best of 2019.
Social Mula’s album launch
Being considered one of Rwanda’s most gifted musicians was not enough for musician Lambert Mugwaneza, commonly known by his stage name ‘Social Mula’, at least not until he launched his maiden album dubbed ‘Ma Vie’ [‘My Life’].
The singer had previously repeatedly said that an album launch was what was missing to complete his identity as a professional musician.
On November 23, his dream came to pass when with support from singers Yvan Buravan, King James, Yverry, Marina and Bruce Melodie, he eventually launched his album.
Social Mula’s concert was one of this year’s social calendar events that proved that Rwandan music is going places.
Jazzing with the ‘Classic Man’
American rapper Jidenna Theodore Mobisson, better known as Jidenna was in town last month to close the Kigali Jazz Junction 2019 season in style.
It was the US-based singer’s ‘Classic Man’ song, too, which helped him own the stage from minute one to the last bringing the crowd, which had filled up the Kigali Conference and Exhibition Village venue, to their feet.
Jidenna performed alongside local music star Bruce Melodie. The monthly Jazz shows will resume early next year.
The Hillsong live concert
It was a blessing for Rwandan music lovers, especially those into gospel music, to begin 2019 with Don Moen, and then close it with UK-based worship team, Hillsong London.
Christians who attended the gospel concert can say that the choir’s two-hour live performance was memorable as the curtain fell when revelers still wanted more.
The attendance at the concert, which took place at the Kigali Arena is a testament that gospel music has an even brighter future in Rwanda.
Concert goers worshiping during a concert. / File
Don Moen during his epic performance at the MTN Praise Fest in February. / File
Jidenna on stage during the Kigali Jazz Junction November Edition at Kigali Conference and Exhibition Village. / File
Nigerian music superstar Burna Boy performing in Kigali in March. / Courtesy
Social Mula seen on stage holding his first-born son during his maiden album launch. / File