MASTERS OF CEREMONIES (MC) have always been key in making the world of entertainment a place to be for millions if not billions of people worldwide. MCs are coming of age in Rwanda in entertainment and sports. We bring you a list of MCs who are making local entertainment. Lion Imanzi Regarded as the most experienced MC in the entertainment industry, Lion Imanzi has always been a public’s favourite had for over the past two decades. His talent and artistic humor in orchestrating an entertaining atmosphere at every venue earned him huge admiration from big entertainment show organisers who were always looking for his services to ensure their events are successful. From concerts and beauty pageants to music festivals, MC Lion Imanzi was always sought after in hosting Kigali’s top entertainment events. He was the first MC to host the inaugural edition of Miss Rwanda in 1993 as well as the first edition of the famous Primus Guma Guma Superstar music contest which came to an end in 2018. He also hosted the Pan-African Dance Festival (FESPAD) whenever it was held in Rwanda. This makes him pioneer in emceeing in Rwanda. His talent has also attracted corporate companies that hire him for commercial broadcast advertisements. MC Tino MC Tino (L) and Anita Pendo during a past Primus Guma Guma Superstar event. / File Tino is famously known by many as a natural multipurpose professional who juggles journalism, music and emceeing. Despite doing music and journalism, he has chosen a name that markets him as an MC rather than a radio presenter or an artist. And with the shows he hosted over the past decade, MC Tino never disappointed. Tino has hosted so many big entertainment events, but music was always his favorite part of entertainment. His ability to sing, dance and drop jokes have enabled him establish himself as one of the best MCs that Rwanda has ever produced in the modern era. It’s hard to find a big show without MC Tino as a lead host. His performance as a musician may not meet your expectations but, whenever you find him on the concert lineup as the host, you are guaranteed a combined package of music and comedy. Anita Pendo Anita Pendo and MC Tino on stage remains the best combination of MCs that existed in Rwanda. Majority of their fans agree that they are professionally made for each other, given the entertainment and vibes they bring as a team. The formidable duo earned themselves an exclusive contract as Primus Guma Guma Superstar MCs for so many editions. Anita Pendo’s creativity in entertaining show goers always earns her confidence from organisers to hire her over and over to host their shows. For her, emceeing remains her favorite passion and a source of living besides being a radio and TV presenter. MC Brian He has not been in the emceeing profession for quite some time, but MC Brian’s rise to stardom was too quick. Brian stepped on a number of stages that he never imagined he would as a multi-event professional emcee, specialising in sports events, something that distinguished him from other renowned MCs. The 27-year-old is now the official emcee and Public Address Announcer of the national Basketball League and he has been doing the same job during the past two editions of the annual Basketball Africa League (BAL) that took place at the Kigali Arena. His passion in sports drives him to sharpen his emceeing skill and has, as a result, become a go-to MC for different basketball competitions hosted in Kigali. He just needs to excel in emceeing for other sports events just like he does for basketball. David Bayingana Another multitask professional with ample focus in sports and little visibility in entertainment. Making a name for himself as a popular sports journalist saw Bayingana hooked in moderating corporate and non-corporate events associated with sports. He has for many years been emceeing at the annual Tour du Rwanda cycling competition and is on many occasions booked to emcee at major sports events held in Rwanda. He also moderated the Afrobasket 2021 finals draw that was held in Kigali, Rwanda in May last year. Other big events that he emceed include the African Volleyball Championships as well as Visit Rwanda meet and greet with the likes of Paris Saint-Germain defender Ramos and former Arsenal player David Luiz among others. Bayingana’s experience in the sports ecosystem has earned him exclusive rights to moderate so many corporate events held in Rwanda.
