Kenyan reggae and rhythm-and-blues singer Wyre arrived in Kigali on Thursday ahead of the seventh edition of the Oldies Music Festival, set for Saturday at Kigali Universe. It is the first time the annual event will be led by an international recording artiste. WATCH: Kenyan reggae and R&B star Wyre arrives at Kigali International Airport at midday on July 23 ahead of the seventh edition of the Oldies Music Festival, scheduled for July 25 at Kigali Universe, where he is set to headline the event. : @CKoraneza25057 /TNT pic.twitter.com/HgpTsdGKjR — The New Times (Rwanda) (@NewTimesRwanda) July 23, 2026 Wyre told fans he has prepared for a set built around his best-known songs and said he will remain in Rwanda until Sunday, leaving room for possible meetings with local artistes. He said his team is already in talks with some Rwandan acts about collaborations. This year’s festival is expected to focus on music from the 1970s through the early 2000s, with organisers also promising vintage fashion, nostalgic displays and live entertainment. Thousands are expected at Kigali Universe for the one-night event. About the artiste Best known as Wyre, Kevin Waire has built one of East Africa's most recognisable reggae and R&B careers through both his solo work and his time with Necessary Noize and the East African Bashment Crew. His entry into the Recording Academy's 2026 New Member Class adds another chapter to a career that has long stretched beyond hit songs, placing him among the voices that help shape the future of recorded music and the GRAMMY Awards process.
