Two of Rwanda’s most influential musicians, Bruce Melodie and The Ben, have once again joined hands, this time announcing plans for a joint country tour, less than a month after their collaborative New Year show that helped ease a rivalry that had dominated local showbiz conversations for nearly three years. ALSO READ: Talks on Bruce Melodie’s joint shows with The Ben ‘almost done’—1:55AM For the first time, Bruce Melodie joined The Ben to the big stage foe what was described by man as the “Number One” battle during The Nu Year Groove, headlined annually by The Ben every January 1. This marked the first major public collaboration between the two artistes after years of tension. While many industry observers had long dismissed their rivalry as a typical showbiz beef, the upcoming joint concert suggests a more strategic shift toward collaboration and business-driven decision-making. Bruce Melodie first announced the idea of a joint tour in January, but the claim was quickly disputed by The Ben, who publicly flagged it as false information. The situation briefly escalated, with Bruce Melodie later claiming he had lost close to Rwf100 million due to the confusion caused by the announcement, according the reports. Following discussions between the two artistes, the misunderstanding was resolved. The tour, dubbed 'Summer Country Tour,' was made official on February 8. Although dates, venues and ticketing details are yet to be released, both artists’ camps have confirmed that the countrywide tour is on track, signaling a renewed working relationship between the two stars. The rivalry between Bruce Melodie and The Ben dates back to The Ben’s high-profile collaboration with Tanzanian superstar Diamond Platnumz — a project that then manager Coach Gael, the CEO of 1:55 AM, invested in over $75,000 (approx. Rwf 100 million). The Ben reportedly failed to pay back Gael in what fueled a beef that got Bruce Melodie involved after joining Gael’s 1:55AM management. For years, the two artistes dominated conversations around who truly sits at the top of Rwanda’s music industry, often releasing music and staging shows in ways that appeared competitive rather than collaborative. But the persisting feud has now taken a new twist, with the two music heavyweights committing to take Rwandan music to the next level through partnerships including the upcoming country tour. Alex Muyoboke, a longtime observer of Rwanda’s creative industry who’s also said to work closely with The Ben, described the new partnership as a mature example of how music rivalries should evolve. “This is how music should be done — focusing on business rather than hate. They are in the same business, so it’s better to merge the business than to separate it. Even if they are not friends, business-wise they should encourage partnership,” Muyoboke told The New Times. Commenting on the commercial impact of The NuYear Groove, Muyoboke said, “It was the first time a Rwandan artiste’s concert attracted big sponsors such as Bralirwa, Airtel, Bank of Kigali and many others—something we were previously used to seeing mainly in government programmes.” “That alone shows that their collaboration was necessary.” He further explained that, beyond the artistes themselves, the collaboration benefits the wider industry ecosystem — from stage crews to vendors — because stronger joint shows generate income for many people involved. Fellow artistes see broader benefits Singer Gisa Cy’Inganzo, who also benefited from the pair’s partnership during The Nu Year Groove, said the partnership sends an important message to the industry. “I see it as something very important because our music grows through collaboration. There are people who make comments that seem to fuel rivalry; yes, competition exists in music, but I believe it should be healthy. One set of hands is never enough, and the main goal should be to develop the industry,” he said. He added that seeing concerts where Bruce Melodie and The Ben share the same stage — alongside other Rwandan artistes — should become more common. “That is one of the things other countries are ahead of us in — collaboration. We can also do the same and show the world that the Rwandan industry is built on partnership and is capable of growing further.” Fans welcome the move The Ben and Bruce Melodie have on many occasions pointed at media and fans as key drivers of their rivalry. But they have tirelessly dismissed any talk linking them to a beef or rivalry. For Noella Isimbi, who referred herself as a longtime supporter, said the debate over who is better between the two often misses a key reality of the local market. “The truth is that the Rwandan audience is not big enough for one artiste to exist in isolation. When you look at how we consume music, our playlists usually have songs from everyone. Bruce Melodie and The Ben share a fanbase, so there is no real logic in not working together,” she said. She added that joint concerts make business sense, as supporters from both sides turn up at the same time, increasing reach, ticket sales and overall impact. While full details of the upcoming country tour are still expected, the summer show will mark another step in what appears to be a recalibration of priorities — from rivalry to partnership. For an industry that continues to push for sustainability, stronger sponsorship and regional visibility, the collaboration between Bruce Melodie and The Ben may prove to be less about settling old scores and more about shaping a viable future for Rwandan music.
