Kigali Jazz Junction to celebrate fourth birthday with Zahara, Nyashinski

Organised by RG-Consult, the event has in the past four years featured regional and international artists alongside local musicians.

"The line-up appeals to both the youth and the older audience," Kigali Jazz Junction founder and curator Remmy Lubega told Music In Africa. "The international artists will be joined by Rwanda's Amalon, Nep DJs and the Neptunez Band.

"We wanted to bring all age groups together as we celebrate our fourth anniversary. Therefore, Zahara is typically for a more elite and corporate audience – those above 30 years old.

"On the other hand, Nyashinski comes with a new vibe and although his music could cut across age groups, he is most appealing to the younger audience. He is a local star here, so it will be a good experience for him to have his first performance through the event."

Lubega says his team has done well to keep the event going through the years. "The entire team at RG-Consult is highly organised. We continue to grow because people trust us to bring fresh and new talent, and uncut entertainment during each edition."

He also believes that jazz as a genre has massive potential to grow and even become the dominant sound in Rwanda's capital.

"The even has resolved all doubt we had about jazz's ability to catch on with the Rwandese audience. We're now planning to launch an all-exclusive jazz festival next year, culminating what we've been trying to do with Kigali Jazz Junction. I think that we have done a great job in popularising this music," Lubega said.

Kigali Jazz Junction has hosted artists such as the late Oliver Mtukudzi (Zimbabwe), M'bilia Bel (DRC), Isaiah Katumwa (Uganda) and Ringo Madlingozi (South Africa), among many others.

For information about the 31 May event, click here.