Rema sets Kigali alight at Kwita Izina concert

Nigerian Afrobeats star Rema returned to the Kigali stage on Saturday, September 5, delivering a high-energy performance at BK Arena as part of celebrations marking the 21st Kwita Izina Gorilla Naming Ceremony. The concert brought together music fans for a night that featured performances from some of Rwanda’s leading contemporary artistes, culminating in a headline set from one of Africa’s biggest global music stars. ALSO READ: Rema all set for Kwita Izina concert—who else will perform? Rema, whose real name is Divine Ikubor, took to the stage after a series of performances by Rwandan artistes and DJs, marking his first performance in Kigali since the 2023 Trace Awards, where he won the Global African Artist and Song of the Year awards for his hit “Calm Down.” The singer performed for about one hour and 20 minutes, running through some of the songs that have defined his career, including “Beamer,” “Are You There,” “Soundgasm,” “Calm Down,” “Fun,” “Soweto,” “Dumebi” and “Ozeba.” “Calm Down,” one of his biggest international hits, was among the most anticipated moments of the night, with fans singing along to the song that helped propel Rema to global prominence. He also performed “Soweto,” his collaboration with Victony, Tempoe and Don Toliver, which drew a strong response from the Kigali audience. Rema closed his set with “Ozeba,” one of the standout tracks from his 2024 album HEIS. Earlier in the performance, he encouraged fans to sing and dance along as he moved through his catalogue. The concert was preceded by a series of performances from Rwandan artistes and DJs. DJ Senshi opened the show, mixing Afrobeats and pop records as fans made their way into BK Arena. Media personalities Lucky Nzeyimana and Rocky Try hosted the event. Kenny Sol followed with a performance featuring some of his popular songs, including “Haje Gushya” and “Phenomena,” keeping the audience engaged ahead of the headline act. Kivumbi King was also among the night’s performers. The singer-songwriter later invited fellow artiste Juno Kizigenza onto the stage, where they performed their collaboration “Kirigute.” UK-based Rwandan singer Saràh Phenom performed immediately before Rema, becoming the final local act before the Nigerian star took the stage. Phenom had recently shared the stage with Rema in Paris and returned to perform for a home audience in Kigali. DJs Marnaud and Senshi also helped maintain the momentum throughout the evening, while other entertainment acts contributed to the build-up to Rema’s headline performance. Music caps Kwita Izina celebrations The concert came a day after the 21st Kwita Izina Gorilla Naming Ceremony in Kinigi, Musanze District, where 22 baby mountain gorillas were given names under the theme “Conservation is Life: Sustaining the Future.” ALSO READ: 22 names for baby gorillas and what they mean Kwita Izina, which has been held annually since 2005, has grown from a gorilla-naming ceremony into a broader conservation and tourism platform that brings together leaders, conservationists, business figures, entertainers and visitors. Rema’s concert served as the entertainment finale of this year’s celebrations, bringing together conservation, tourism, culture and music in Kigali. For Rema, the performance marked his third known appearance in Rwanda. He first performed in the country in 2021 during the BK All-Star Game before returning in 2023 for the inaugural Trace Awards at BK Arena.

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Rema sets Kigali alight at Kwita Izina concert