One of the Caribbean’s most legendary bands is coming to Kigali next month. The Zouk group Kassav, the most famous in the history of the genre, is coming for a concert due on Velentine’s Day, February 14. The band is expected to jet in on February 13, ahead of their performance at Kigali Conference and Exhibition Village. The concert, dubbed ‘Kassav Live’, is organised by Arthur Nation, in partnership with RG Consult. The performance is expected to include a wide array of the group’s biggest hits, including “Zouk la se sel medikaman nou ni”, “Mwen di ou awa”, “Oh Madiana”, “Doméyis”, “Siwo” and “Pa bizwen pale” among others. The performance by Guadeloupe-based group on Valentine’s Day will be their first gig in Rwanda. What better way to celebrate love! The concert will also feature a dinner. Speaking about the event, the organisers said they are in touch with the band’s management team to plan their performance in Kigali before they head to Goma, DR Congo, where they are scheduled to participate in the annual Amani music festival. “Kassav is a legendary band and having them on Valentine’s Day is a big package for the lovers to have their day even more enjoyable,” Nkusi, the CEO of Arthur Nations, told The New Times, adding that: “We’ve been working closely with their team to see how we can have them in Kigali since we learnt they are performing in DR Congo.” Nkusi said, adding that they are in negotiations with a local artiste to share stage with the band. “I think this is going to be the biggest Valentine’s Day concert that ever happened in Rwanda. There will also be dinner for the couples, and the concert is open to everyone, even those who’re singles. We’re not limiting people because Valentine’s Day is about love. You can find your love at the concert,” Nkusi said Kassav was formed in 1979 by Pierre-Edouard Décimus and Paris studio musician Jacob F. Desvarieux. Together, the duo decided to make Guadeloupian carnival music and record it in a more fully-orchestrated yet modern and polished style (as electronics had begun to infiltrate recorded popular music in that decade). In the 1980s they would take Caribbean music to another level by recording in the newly-developed purely digital format available in Paris at the time and hence became the leading band to emerge from the formative years of Zouk. The band gave the genre a pan-Caribbean touch by taking elements from Haitian kompa, Dominica Cadence-lypso, Dominican merengue, Nuevo Rican salsa, Trinidadian calypso, Republic of Cameroon’s music Makossa and the result became world-famous. The band gained great popularity by performing in different countries in the world. Tickets are already on sale via www.rgtickets.com. Early birds tickets go for Rwf10, 000 in regular seats, while VIP and VVIP tickets are at Rwf20, 000 and Rwf30, 000 respectively.
