The last few days have been positive for Rwanda’s entertainment industry, starting the year with various trends and surprises. The New Times highlights more stories that made people talk last week: Former Miss Rwanda Aurore Kayibanda gets married US-based Aurore Kayibanda Mutesi, the winner of the 2012 Miss Rwanda beauty pageant, on Thursday, February 23 officially tied the knot with her long-time fiancé Jacques Gatera. Kayibanda’s wedding, which was held in Phoenix, Arizona, comes three years after her divorce from celebrated photographer and videographer Egide Mbabazi, who rose to stardom after getting engaged to the beauty queen in 2018. ALSO READ: Who is Miss Aurore’s golfer fiancé? The wedding ceremony drew the attention of many prominent Rwandan celebrities residing in the US including Bad Rama, the renowned duo Charly na Nina, video director Cedru, events planner Ernesto Ugeziwe, and ex-basketball player Lionel Hakizimana, and many others. Kenny Sol joins 1:55Am In a surprising turn of events, Singer Kenny Sol, one of Rwanda’s most popular artistes, was last week said to have inked a deal with emerging music label 1:55 AM, which is home to some of the biggest Rwandan musicians like Bruce Melodie and producer Element. The development was later acknowledged by Bruce Melodie on a radio show which is part of his ongoing media tour in Nairobi, Kenya. “It’s not out yet but we signed Kenny Sol. That’s a secret I’m telling you guys,” Melodie said on Citizen FM. Kenny Sol becomes the second musician to join the record label this year after Ross Kana and The New Times understands that Kevin Kade might be the next interest for the emerging music house. Naomi Nishimwe, Michael Tesfay “Gufata Irembo” Miss Rwanda 2020 Naomi Nishimwe and her fiancé Michael Tesfay on Saturday, February 24, had their ‘Gufata Irembo’, a very important primary stage of traditional wedding ceremonies where the boy’s family officially acknowledges the girl for their son’s marriage. This came after the former beauty queen announced that the two will officially wed in December. ALSO READ: Miss Rwanda 2020 Nishimwe engaged to Ethiopian techpreneur Michael Tesfay Tesfay and Nishimwe were first reported to be dating in early 2022 before making their relationship public via social media a few months later, sharing photos of them. Nishimwe will be the fourth beauty queen to get married since 2009, after Grace Bahati, Aurore Mutesi Kayibanda, and Elsa Iradukunda. Producer Prince Kiiiz and Bruce Melodie in Nairobi to produce new music Just a few months after a successful US tour that included cities like Dallas, Miami and Portland, Bruce Melodie, and Prince Kiiiz are now in Nairobi, Kenya for a media tour, and to finalise some of the projects that feature Nairobi-based musicians. ALSO READ: Bruce Melodie on being first Rwandan musician to win Trace Award The New Times understands that the duo will be producing collabos with some of the best musicians in the country, including former Sauti Sol member Bien Aime, among others.
