Gospel star Israel Mbonyi is once again building anticipation ahead of his annual concert, this time through a steady rollout of new music. Fresh from releasing his latest single, Sitamuacha, Mbonyi confirmed he has officially begun rolling out tracks from his album Hobe. He plans to release several more songs ahead of his December concert. The album made its debut at a launch show held on Sunday, October 5, at the Intare Conference Arena in Rusororo. ALSO READ: Prosper Nkomezi’s ‘Warandamiye’: A gospel album born out of prayers The strategy has become increasingly common among artistes looking to deepen engagement with their audiences. Instead of releasing an album all at once, many now tease it through spaced-out singles—keeping fans listening, guessing, and spreading the word. The result is a slow burn of excitement that lasts well beyond the concert stage. ALSO READ: ‘Sikiliza’ earns Israel Mbonyi top international award in Tanzania The rollout will see him unveil new songs each week leading up to Icyambu, his signature concert series set to return this December at BK Arena. The show, now in its fourth edition, has consistently drawn massive crowds to the 10,000-seat venue. “There’s no slowing down now,” Mbonyi said. “People have to keep dancing. From the concert, we saw how much the music connected with the crowd—everyone was eager to hear more. So after releasing the first song, I plan to drop a new one every week until December, when we’ll meet again.” Hobe, Mbonyi’s sixth studio album, features 14 songs performed in Kinyarwanda, English, and Swahili. The project spans a range of styles—from Amapiano and Afrobeats to soul and Gakondo—blending traditional influences with contemporary gospel energy. The singer has been on a steady creative journey since his debut Number One in 2014. His catalog now includes Intashyo (2017), Mbwira (2020), Hari Ubuzima (Live) (2022), and Umusirikare (2023). With Hobe, Mbonyi continues to expand his sound while staying true to the worshipful essence that has defined his music from the start.
