East African music stars Bien and Joshua Baraka are set to headline the halftime entertainment during the upcoming Basketball Africa League Playoffs at BK Arena in Kigali. Bien will perform on May 22 during the opening night of the playoffs, while Joshua Baraka is scheduled to take the stage on May 23 as part of the league’s “Live at the BAL” halftime concert series. ALSO READ: Joshua Baraka shrugs off 'pressure' to carry East African music The two artistes have collaborated on several occasions, most recently on “Ayayaah,” a track by Rwandan producer and singer Element Eleéeh. Bien also appeared on the remix of Baraka’s breakout hit “Nana” alongside King Promise and Joeboy, a collaboration that helped broaden Baraka’s fan base across the region. Widely recognised as a member of Kenyan afro-pop group Sauti Sol, Bien has continued to build a successful solo career with performances across Africa and beyond. Joshua Baraka has also established himself as one of East Africa’s rising stars, known for blending multiple genres while producing and playing instruments. He returns to Kigali just months after performing at Tempah’s Reset 2026 held at Mundi Center earlier this year. The 2026 BAL playoffs will feature eight teams: RSSB Tigers, Petro de Luanda, Al Ahly Ly, Dar City, ASC Ville de Dakar, Club Africain, FUS Rabat, and Al Ahly. The final is scheduled for May 31 at BK Arena. The entertainment lineup will conclude on finals night with a performance by Tanzanian singer Abigail Chams. The 2026 BAL season tipped off on March 27 with Kalahari Conference in Pretoria, South Africa, and will conclude with the finals in Kigali.
