Congolese music legend Awilo Longomba arrived in Kigali on Wednesday, ahead of the Kigali Jazz Junction slated for Friday at Kigali Conference and Exhibition Village (formerly Camp Kigali). The multi-award-winning singer will perform alongside Rwandan artistes Rita Ange Kagaju and Mani Martin. The singer, now based in the United Kingdom, becomes one of the biggest musicians, to have ever graced the monthly corporate music event since its inception in 2015. He is the second Congolese artiste going to grace the event, after last year’s performance by Rumba queen M’Bilia Bel. The singer is already doing rehearsals for the Friday show and will be joined by his band, which is expected to jet in tonight from Paris, France. Awilo, 57, was announced as the October edition top headliner shortly after Nigerian singer Johnny Drille’s performance at last month’s Jazz Junction, when the Congolese topped public polls on social media, against American singer Mya Harrison and Kenya’s Suzan Awiyo. He won by 67 percent against Mya with 28 percent, and Awiyo’s 5 percent. Best known as ‘Le propriétaire de tous les dossiers’, loosely translated as ‘the owner of all documents’, Awilo has established himself as an undisputed African music icon through numerous songs like ‘‘Coupé’’, ‘‘Gâté le coin’’, “Cache cache”, “Karolina”, “Rosarina”, “Banana”, “Bibala bala”, “Trop parler c’est maladie” “Fifi”, and “Esopi yo” among many others. Early birds tickets are now on sale, Rwf10,000 (regular), Rwf20,000 (VIP) and Rwf25,000 (VVIP), and Rwf200,000 (a table of eight). Tickets will be available at the gate at Rwf15,000 (standing behind cocktail tables), Rwf25,000 (seat behind VVIP tables), and Rwf30,000 (seats on VVIP tables). A table of eight will go for Rwf240,000 (front row). editor@newtimesrwanda.com
