In a historic moment for both Rwanda and the entire African continent, Trace Festival, a celebration of Afro excellence is already underway in Kigali, Rwanda. The much-anticipated two-day event promises to be a melting pot of creativity and networking for diverse African talents. The journey to this groundbreaking festival began with presser held on October 20, at Kigali Conference and Exhibition Village (KCEV), with some of the biggest names in African artistry, each bringing their unique perspective and experiences their feelings, hopes, and experiences as they landed in Rwanda ahead of the celebrations. ALSO READ: Explainer: What you should know about Trace Awards & Festival in Rwanda Nadia Mukami, Benjamin Dube and DJ Doll were the first stars to be invited on the stage as they staged a flow of vibrant Q&A’s interactions with pressmen and diehard fans. On the stage, Mukami, a Kenyan pop star couldn’t hold back her feelings upon arriving in Kigali. She said “Najisikia poa..I feel so good, it's my first time to be in Kigali. The city is clean and orderly.” The ‘Wangu’ singer added: “The platform (Trace Festival) means a lot as diverse artists are coming together for celebrations, obviously it means something big.” Equally, renowned South African gospel singer Bishop Benjamin Dube expressed that it’s a great opportunity and people are so loving since a big number of people are like family to him. “I am extremely enjoying coming back to Kigali for the third time,” he said. Next were renowned gospel singer Levixone from Uganda and Kelce from Cameroon. Levixone expressed that “it’s a blessing to be here in Kigali, I am coming home. I love God by loving people, I serve God by serving people, I cannot wait to see you soon.” ALSO READ: Trace Awards in Kigali: Who are the top contenders? Yemi Alade, a Nigerian female mega star, expressed that the festival makes a lot of sense as it recognises the efforts of many artistes across the continents. The ‘Bum Bum’ singer revealed that she wanted to give up on her music career but remind herself how far she has come, which pushed her to work for more. “Finally, our efforts are being recognized continental.” Rwandan fast-rising female artiste Bwiza, Musa Keys, South Africa's Amapiano star and Nigeria's Pheelz appeared on the stage together. Pheelz who is known for his megahit song ‘Finesse’ believes that its time for Africa and that this is just the beginning. “Africa to the world yeaah...we are the best I am sure,” he confidently said.” Bwiza’s extraordinary voice and dedication to uplift Rwanda’s music couldn’t go unnoticed while on the stage as she encouraged young girls to work hard. “They shouldn’t be afraid to take that leap.” Keys expressed that Amapiano is everyone’s favourite genre and widely admired by many. “Everyone is commenting on it and it means a lot for Africa.” ALSO READ: International celebrities jet into Rwanda for Trace Awards Other stars that graced the stage include Nigerian musician D’banj, born Dapo Daniel Oyebanjo. The ‘Fall In Love’ hitmaker shared that African artistes should engage in more collaborations and that is what will make the Afrobeat genre more powerful. As the host of Trace Awards, D'banj's presence at the festival is symbolic of the deep-rooted connections that Trace Festival aims to celebrate. On the other hand, different musicians from all walks of life mainly in Caribbean countries, France, Madagascar, Comoros island, both solo and groups were spotted at the presser sharing their excitement and amazing spills ahead of actual events. It is worth mentioning that each of these artistes expressed different opinions while underlining the significance of this event in celebrating Afro excellence. The festival represents an exciting chapter in the African music and cultural landscape, promising an unforgettable experience for both the artistes and their eager fans alike.
