The Iwacu Muzika Festival 2021 show which was slated to take place this Saturday, September 4, has been replaced with a tribute show honouring deceased rapper Joshua Tuyishime, known as Jay Polly.
Tonight’s show which was supposed to feature Marina and Calvin Mbanda will be replaced with a replay of the Iwacu Muzika show which Jay Polly featured in August 2020.
According to Joseph Mushyoma, the CEO of East African Promoters (EAP), which organises the annual festival, the show will serve as a fitting tribute to the singer. Tonight’s show will also feature his elder brother, Jean-Maurice Uwera, who will be speaking about the rapper’s life.
"The management of East African Promoters (EAP) in collaboration with the sponsors of Iwacu Muzika Festival 2021 would like to inform all Rwandans that the Iwacu Muzika 2021 show which was supposed to air on RTV tonight, September 4, 2021, from 20h45’ will no longer take place, in line with mourning musician Joshua Tuyishime (Jay Polly) who left us recently”
"The show has been postponed to September 11, 2021. We take this opportunity to send our condolences to the family and friends of Jay Polly,” EAP said in an announcement.
Mushyoma said that Jay Polly was an icon in the music industry, regardless of his troubles and he was one of the best rappers Rwanda has ever had, having revolutionised the hip-hop genre.
"I had known Jay Polly for a long time. We worked together for more than a decade. He was one of the easiest artistes to work with. He never complicated things. The last time I talked to him, he said that once he is out of jail, we would work on a big project,”
"He is a huge loss to the industry. He will be missed but his contribution will always be remembered,” Mushyoma said.
Fellow musicians, members of the creative industry and Rwandans, in general, have been mourning the artiste who passed away on September 2 at Muhima Hospital, at the age of 33.
According to Rwanda Correctional Service (RCS), the rapper passed away after consuming a concoction of aftershave used by inmates, water and sugar, which led to him complaining about stomach pain.
Born July 5, 1988 in Gikondo, Kigali, Jay Polly was the second born in a family of three children Pièrre Nsabimana and Marianne Mukaburiza.
He is famously known for founding the pioneer hip hop group Tuff Gang and also possessed immense art talent. He was arrested on April 23 with 11 others, at his home in Kibagabaga, for violating Covid-19 preventive measures after he hosted a party.
A subsequent search by police said that they found Marijuana and fake Covid-19 certificates. In an interview, Jay Polly claimed that he was not at his home at the time. He would later plead not guilty. Bail applications were denied by Gasabo Primary and Intermediate Courts.
The date for the substantive trial had been set on December 2. RCS said that the concoction was shared with his young brother Jean-Clément Iyamuremye and a one Gilbert Harerimana. Efforts by Doctors to save him did not pay off and the rapper passed on. He will be laid to rest on Sunday, September 4, 2021.