Wyre arrives in Rwanda, teases collaborations with local artistes
Friday, July 24, 2026
Kenyan reggae and R&B star Wyre is set to become the first international recording artiste to headline the Oldies Music Festival in Kigali. COURTESY

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.

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.