Old school music is gaining momentum under the newly-introduced Oldies Music Festival and music enthusiasts who witnessed the inaugural music event were only left wanting more from organisers who had no choice but close at 2pm. Hundreds of revelers, dominated by an adult audience, on Friday, May 27, gathered at Juru Park in Rebero for the ‘throwback’ show from which everyone was anticipating to reminisce about the old times during their fun days back in the 1980s, 90s and early 2000s. The star-studded event attracted a number of celebrities including the likes of DJ Pius, comedian Clapton Mugisha, a.k.a Kibonge, music manager Alex Muyoboke, sports and showbiz radio personality David Bayingana and socialite Shadia Mbabazi, popularly known as Shaddyboo among many others. From the fashion code and the music to the vibes and the fact that no person aged under 18 was allowed to attend, organisers made sure that the concept of the show does not lose its ‘old school’ nature. Celebrated DJs Bisoso, Karim and DJ RY have a proven experience behind the decks and were hence brought to stage to deliver the best of old school music that made headlines during the past three or two decades. MC Lion Imanzi, who emceed the inaugural Miss Rwanda in 1993, was on the other flank interacting with festival goers reflecting on memories that each old school song holds in their old fun times at clubs and other party venues. Music from the likes of American music icons 50Cent, Snoop Dogg, Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, Nelly, Michael Jackson, Madonna and 2Pac dominated the playlists alongside the music of Latin America and Caribbean music that saw many dance various genres dominated by Hip Hop, pop, RnB and Salsa. Rumba, which is of Congolese origin, also owned the place through the likes of Koffi Olomide and Makoma as African Zook kig Oliver Ngoma and South Africa’s Mafikizolo. Rwandan music was not left behind. Arasharamye, a then club-hit thanks to which by Kigali Boys (KGB) rose to fame back in the 2000s, Cecile Kayirebwa’s ‘Ubumanzi, Rahira by The Ben ft Miss Shanel, Tukabyine by Rafiki ft Miss Jojo were among local songs that left revelers singing along. All these songs have over the night been bringing old memories back to how partying life was like during the past two to three decades. The men behind the decks apparently took ample time to prepare the playlists that feature old school music, in Rwanda and worldwide, to create an entertaining atmosphere which they did from the beginning to the last minute. The appetite and love that revelers showed old school music made organisers think beyond as they look to make the concept bi-annual or a show that would happen every three months. “People were like ‘but how did we miss this stuff all this long?’. The thing is people who attended the show were so excited to the extent that some did not want us to close,” Uwimana told The New Times. “The feedback was so positive and motivating for us that we are already looking at how we can bring this show either every three months or every six months. We will communicate the decision soon,” he added. With the plan, Kigali party people are bracing to taste ‘old school’ music vibes more often.
