Belgium is set to host its first Rwandan gospel festival, bringing together worship leaders, pastors and gospel ministers from Rwanda and Burundi in an event organisers say is aimed at promoting unity through worship. Dubbed the Brussels Gospel Festival 2027, the three-day event will take place from February 26 to 28, 2027, at Birmingham Palace in Brussels under the theme, Uniting Through Worship. The lineup announced so far features some of Rwanda's leading gospel artistes, including Israel Mbonyi, Richard Nick Ngendahayo, gospel duo Ben & Chance, Adrien Misigaro and Aline Gahongayire. Burundian gospel singer Willy Uwizeye is also scheduled to perform. ALSO READ: Gospel group True Promises to perform in Kampala and Mbarara Among the pastors expected to minister are Bishop Emmanuel Karemera and Pastors Stanley and Julienne Kabanda. Organisers said additional gospel artistes, including performers from Burundi, will be announced in the coming months. Speaking about the festival, one of the organisers, Eric Mashukano, said the initiative seeks to strengthen gospel ministry by bringing together gospel artistes on one stage while fostering collaboration among worship ministers. We want to grow gospel ministry by bringing together different gospel artistes. This festival is not only for Belgium but also a starting point for similar events across the region, Mashukano said. He said Belgium was chosen as the launch venue because Team Production, the organiser of the festival, is based there and wanted to give the Rwandan diaspora an opportunity to experience the kind of worship gatherings commonly held back home. Many people in the diaspora rarely get the chance to attend these kinds of worship events. Mashukano also revealed that, following the Brussels edition, Team Production plans to organise a major gospel concert in Kigali next year in response to growing demand from gospel music enthusiasts in Rwanda. We also want to respond to requests from people in Kigali who have been asking us to organise similar festivals there. After this festival in Belgium, we are preparing another one in Kigali next year, he said. He added that the festival comes at a time when there is an increasing need to unite believers through worship while encouraging greater collaboration among gospel artistes. Bringing multiple gospel artistes together on one stage remains relatively uncommon in Rwanda's gospel music industry, making the Brussels Gospel Festival a rare platform for collaboration and collective worship.
