Prior to the show, Kenyan singer and former Sauti Sol member, Bien-Aimé Baraza, told the press that he would give Rwandans a show to remember and he did exactly that. ALSO READ: Former Sauti Sol member Bien-Aimé promises amazing show in Kigali His performance at the second edition of MMT (Marnaud Music Therapy), on Friday July 28, was his first as a solo artiste since Sauti Sol disbanded. The show kicked off at around 10 PM with different DJ mixes from DJ Toxxyk and DJ Marnaud, and DJ Pius as the MC of the night. Ruti Joel was the first artiste to appear on the stage at 10:40PM in a black and white pullover. Revelers hardly noticed his arrival until he stretched his arms and started dancing traditionally. He performed live with the help of a band. He performed ‘Cunda’ as the audience sang along. He later on performed ‘Amaliza’ and ‘Igikobwa’ and reminded girls in the audience that they are all beautiful. At 11:30PM Mike Kayihura showed up on stage with his band. For most of his songs; the participants struggled to get the songs he was performing. However, the mood changed when he began performing ‘Zuba,’ ‘Jaribu’ and ‘Sabrina’. Before he could leave the stage, revelers begged him to perform ‘Tuza’ to which he said, “I surely have to do this. I believe that it will be your very best therapy then.” DJ Marnaud soon after set the mood on stage with his music mixes and dance moves before inviting the headliner of the show Bien-Aimé on stage at 00:00. Clad in a white t-shirt and blue complete overall and black shoes, he greeted the crowd with “Amakuru? Mumeze neza? (What’s new? Are you okay?) This is Bien-Aimé Kwizera, I am here to make some memories with you.” He went on with ‘Niko Sawa’ “This is my first solo concert and I have never been blessed like this before. Thank you all for showing up. Let’s make some good memories together. I strongly believe that you are going to enjoy this for sure.” He then performed ‘Short and Sweet’ with the audience singing and dancing along. He sang different songs from his former band, before he performed ‘My Baby,’ a collabo with Ayra Starr and went back to the band song ‘Mbwe Mbwe’ which he said reminds him of his village a lot. In a surprising act, he turned his back to the audience who thought he was done, asking him to come back. He turned with a guitar and declared ‘the show is just beginning now,’ and began performing ‘Nerea’ and ‘Melanin.’ He closed with ‘Suzanna’ after a full hour performance, as revelers were still willing to enjoy the show. Dj Marnaud presented the singer a bouquet of flowers and a cake as a celebration of his first performance as a solo singer and his mother’s birthday. Speaking to The New Times, Kelly Ineza who attended the concert shared that Bien-Aimé performed up to their expectations. “We really had a night that we will mark as one of our best. Also, our artistes, Mike Kayihura and Ruti Joel performed beyond our expectations. This was enough therapy for us.”
