Kigali gets new fancy nightclub

As new hangouts and clubs continue to open in the City of Kigali, Kigali’s socialites and party animals will again have another fancy and cosy nightspot to pick from following the opening of Ryanz Club.Located in Muhima, in the basement of Okapi Hotel, Ryanz Club adds to a growing collection of nightclubs with different themes throughout the week as the city attempts to catch its groove and join major cities in the region littered with vibrant nightclubs.

Saturday, August 03, 2013
The inside of Ryanz Club. Photos by Linda K. Mbabazi.

As new hangouts and clubs continue to open in the City of Kigali, Kigali’s socialites and party animals will again have another fancy and cosy nightspot to pick from following the opening of Ryanz Club.Located in Muhima, in the basement of Okapi Hotel, Ryanz Club adds to a growing collection of nightclubs with different themes throughout the week as the city attempts to catch its groove and join major cities in the region littered with vibrant nightclubs.Ryanz Club adds to the many new clubs coming up in Kigali, ending the dominance and monopoly of a few which have dominated the market for some time and also giving party lovers plenty of choices.Fitted with comfy lounges complete with a well-stocked bar and state-of-the-art music equipment imported from USA, Ryanz club promises to be one of Kigali’s favourite nightclubs with a line-up of professional DJ’s entertaining patrons.The club has also introduced the first Rock Night in Kigali every Thursday for rock lovers in Kigali which is free of charge and beers at Rwf1, 000.In an interview with The New Times, the proprietor of the club, Pamphile Gasana said that Ryanz will aspire to be unique from the rest of the clubs, considering his rich experience in the music industry.Gasana, who is commonly known as DJ Puff returned to Rwanda after spending more than a decade dejaying in America and Canada."It has always been my dream to return home and invest in my own country and Ryanz Club is a dream come true for me. Having spent many years playing in the US, it was time for me to bring my rich music experience at home,” says DJ Puff, who named the club after his son.The dreadlocked star DJ adds that to him the club is a platform for Rwandans to have fun and network and hence a place for everyone to feel at home.Gasana, who has been living in the US since 1999 said that he started saving for the project some years back. He had spent close to ten years without returning to Rwanda until 2011."When I returned to Rwanda, I was surprised by the change this country had undergone. The country was developing so fast having undergone a difficult past. I was in total shock and I said I need to be part of this change,”"Otherwise I would be left behind. While America has been home for me for many years, I believe there is no better place than my country Rwanda,” says DJ Puff, adding that all Rwandans in Diaspora should make it an effort to invest back home as it is the only contribution they can add.The veteran DJ said he invested ‘a lot of money’, having transformed the place from a rugged storehouse into a classy hangout which most Kigalians will fall in love with. He had to import almost everything-from furniture to the sound system.He said the club will be introducing different night themes including Jazz nights, old school and rock among others.The 38-year old is planning to remain in Rwanda to oversee how the business runs but at the same time juggle it with his other work in the US. He too will be playing for revellers at the club.DJ Puff has been on turntables in most of New York’s prominent nightclubs including Forty-Forty which is owned by rapper and business mogul Jay Z. He has played in Boston, Florida and Toronto.Ryanz Club will be officially launched soon but it is already open for clients. The club boasts of sophisticated lighting, sound surround, cosy couches and a well-stocked bar service.