From his time as a member of Two4Real to going solo, the past 15 years of DJ Pius’ music career have been quite a ride, a mix of ups and downs but, in the end, worth a remarkable celebration of what he has achieved throughout. And nor did Ugandan singer-songwriter Joshua Baraka, disappoint when he, alongside other local artistes, joined Pius for the fete at Kigali Universe on Saturday night, August 16. Among local artistes who graced the stage include German-based rising singer Babou Tight King, Ruti Joel, Alyn Sano, Mike Kayihura, and DJ Marnaud. It was Babou Tight King who opened the show at exactly 9:40 p.m. with a performance of some his tracks like Bossman, Kata, Mayibobo, and more. Though the audience was barely familiar with his music, Babou's performance, and his energy on stage, was a delight to watch...he left a mark as one to watch in the future, should he stay consistent. HAPPENING: German–based Rwandan artist Babou Tight King has opened the stage at Deejay Pius’ 15 Years in Music celebration. The event, taking place at Kigali Universe Complex, will also feature performances from Ugandan singer-songwriter Joshua Baraka, as well as Ruti Joel, Alyn... pic.twitter.com/xRPRlKBPBC — The New Times (Rwanda) (@NewTimesRwanda) August 16, 2025 Next up was Deejay Pius, the main reason the show was brought to the stage. His 15 years on the stage were either about singing for his people or doing the best selections of music on the decks as a DJ. And he just showed either side of what he has been all about through the journey. Backed by Nziza Intore dancers, the artiste performed Amarebe n’Imena before jumping to the decks to spin a series of songs, staying true to his promise that the show would be “more about deejaying.” You could also see him flanked by drummers with whom they delivered a performance which was nothing short of spectacular. Similar collaborations continued throughout the night. At exactly 10:40 p.m., star culture artiste Ruti Joel, with his signature style, took to the stage with his fan favourite Igikobwa. The song rarely disappoints; it rather sparks a new atmosphere that the singer maintains throughout his time on stage. Ruti later performed Cunda and Cyane, with the latter leaving none seated, as the audience fully embraced the mood and got completely swept up in the energetic lineup. Alyn Sano's presence also stole the show, especially when she and Pius performed together Bonane which also features rapper Bushali. As expected, while rocking an appealing stage look, she didn’t need to demand attention just like Mike Kayihura did when he hit the stage next with his popular hit Sabrina ft. Kivumbi King. At that moment, the audience left their seats and switched into full party mode, singing word for word along with his setlist. Kayihura, who appeared calm and composed on stage, was blown as away by the moment revelers completely took over every letter of the verses for his songs, especially Anytime, Zuba, and Tuza. He then left the stage for Deejay Pius, who performed Ubushyuhe ft. Bruce Melodie, adding another layer to the already electrifying atmosphere and approving the party vibe. He then returned to his usual place as time for Joshua Baraka arrived at 12:05am. Dressed in a rap-inspired style, the singer stormed the stage with little to no introduction, he just let his music do the talking. Baraka's performance of Tonight ft DJ Neptune was enough to announce his presence, while expressing his love for Kigali, which is said to be his roots. He is also eager to buy a house in the city 'someday.' He later performed Nana before picking up his guitar to add some spice to the show. Dalilah followed on his setlist before he teased the audience with his viral hit Wrong Places which stood out as the main highlight of the night. The acapella version wasn’t enough for the audience, so he performed it semi-live. Fans still demanded more, prompting him to leave the stage and join the crowd, which was completely swept up in the song’s rhythm. Even after moving from place to place, singing the song line by line, the singer ended the performance when revelers were still calling for another round. The show wrapped up with a brief performance by DJ Marnaud which took until 1:00 a.m., to close Pius' music anniversary concert on a high
