When Bruce Melodie and The Ben announced the Summer Country Tour in June, music lovers, the media, and even the artistes themselves framed it as a showdown that could finally settle the debate over who is Rwanda's biggest music star. In the end, however, there was only one winner--Rwandan music. The nationwide tour gave fans a rare opportunity to watch arguably the country's two biggest artistes share the same stage, delivering memorable performances across Musanze, Nyagatare, Bugesera, and, finally, Rubavu. ALSO READ:Bruce Melodie, The Ben shut down Nyamata, Bwiza misses out Rather than fueling rivalry, the Summer Country Tour showcased the depth of their fan bases. Every stop attracted massive crowds, with Bruce Melodie and The Ben exceeding expectations and proving their popularity extends well beyond Kigali. Rubavu proved a fitting finale. The lakeside city welcomed thousands of revelers, including many Kigali residents who travelled to the Western Province to kick off the extended Liberation Day holidays with the July 4 concert. As in the previous shows, the performance lineup featured Bwiza, Kitoko, The Ben, and Bruce Melodie, with each artiste delivering a set that kept the audience entertained throughout the night. Bwiza opened the concert with a lively performance backed by a team of dancers. She thrilled fans with some of her biggest hits, including Gake Gake, Ahazaza, and Best Friend. She also performed her collaborations with Danny Vumbi (Ni Dange) and Senderi Hit (Iyo Twicaranye), immediately setting the tone for the evening. By then, the crowd was already on its feet, even though the show had only just begun. Kitoko followed with a nostalgic set featuring fan favourites such as Agakecuru and Bella, his collaboration with the now-disbanded Dream Boys. He also performed Sibyo, featuring US-based Meddy, before closing with Thank You Kagame, which drew loud applause from concertgoers. After MC Tino warmed up the audience, The Ben took to the stage as the third performer. He treated fans to a string of hit songs, including Sinari Nkuzi, Indabo Zanjye, Folomiana, and Ni Forever. Tuff Gang members P Fla and Green P later joined him for a performance of their collaboration Kwicuma, adding even more excitement to the night. Before leaving the stage, The Ben performed Thank You, the song that had become a crowd favourite throughout the tour. Although his set came to an end, many fans were left wanting more. ALSO READ: Summer Country Tour moves to Bugesera as rivalry builds momentum Bruce Melodie closed the concert in style with an energetic performance of hits including Pom Pom, When She Is Around, Saa Moya, and Ndakwanga. The atmosphere reached another level when Jay C joined him on stage for a performance of their collaboration I'm Back, prompting loud cheers from the crowd. Rubavu marked the final stop of the Summer Country Tour after successful concerts in Musanze, Nyagatare, and Bugesera. Throughout the tour, fans passionately backed both Bruce Melodie and The Ben, with friendly debates over who delivered the stronger performance. By the end of the tour, however, the consensus among many concertgoers was that there was no need to choose a winner. Both artistes had played their part in making the Summer Country Tour one of Rwanda's most successful and memorable live music events.
