Rwanda: Congolese rumba legend to play Kigali

The ‘Nadina’ hitmaker will be joined by local artists Mike Kayihura and the Neptunez Band.

Kigali Jazz Junction founder Remmy Lubega says Bel represents an older generation of timeless African artists.

“They’re very few African female musicians whose music is classic," he said. "If you play ‘Nakei Nairobi’ everybody will get up and dance, both young and old.”

“I am sure the millennial generation has heard her music but it would be nice for them to watch her energetic performance live. I encourage young people to attend so that they can see how the old folks used to rave.”

Bel, who sings in Lingala, Swahili and French, will be backed by her Congolese band and members of the Neptunez Band. She is expected to perform such hits as ‘Balle à Terre’, ‘Eswi Yo Wapi’ and ‘Beyanga’.

“It is going to be a high-spirited event. It will be a nostalgic moment for many and we are working to making sure that the production and other logistics are great,” Lubega said.

“Our brothers and sister from Central Africa have been complaining that we don’t include any acts from their region so we are happy to give them an early Christmas party as part of our last edition in 2018.”

Since its inception three years ago, Kigali Jazz Junction has seen a remarkable evolution, with the festival now showcasing numerous high-profile African acts.

“This year we have put up the bar as far as the artists that we showcased is concerned,” Lubega said. “Compared to last year, when we only booked popular acts, this year we have gone a notch better in terms of working with more experienced artists. We have booked artists such as Zahara, Bebe Cool, Ringo Madlingozi, Waje, Yvonne Chaka Chaka and Oliver Mtukudzi.”

Lubega further noted that corporate sponsorships had been a great boost to the growth of Kigali Jazz Junction. He said companies had now begun to understand just how important music was to their customers.

“The corporates are also starting to appreciate and understand the value of investing their resources and services in live music events. We are happy that the concept is being grasped very well.

“If you look at the brands that we work with, they want to celebrate and to be emotionally connected to their consumers as much as possible. Being part of a live music scene in its depth gives them a reason to be relevant to the market and speak to their consumers,” Lubega said.

For more information about the M'bilia Bel concert in Kigali, click here.