Category: Entertainment

The long awaited performance of a Nigerian born soul singer Neka is finally taking place tonight at the Iysho center in Kacyiru District.

The famous Nigerian singer commonly for his stage name Neka, born and raised in Nigeria, to a Nigerian father and a German mother, arrived today in the country.

She grew up in Nigeria where she started singing from an early age in her school and church choir.

At the age of 18, she pursued a career in singing after relocating to Germany where she also pursued a degree in anthropology.

After releasing her debut album ‘’The Uncomfortable Truth’ she quickly became a rising star, now Neka has performed with international stars like Nas, Damien Marley, Erykah Badu, Jill Scott and Mary J Blige just to mention a few.

For the foot ball lovers she was the voice behind the recording of the ‘Viva Africa’ song.

Neka arrived in Kigali this afternoon for her first time. Neka has collaborated with the likes of international stars such as MIA, Bruno Mars and many more.

She is loved for her soul singing voice and her infusion of music and poetry into her songs has been invited to Rwanda to perform alongside fellow Rwandan poets through the works of the Goethe institute.

The Goethe institute responsible for bringing Neka to Rwanda told Igihe.com that the institute believes that by brining international stars such as Neka and the Opera singer the youth and other age groups will see that there is so much out there across the globe.

“We know that there are a lot of people in Rwanda who wish to have more international stars come here instead of them going abroad to see these international stars,” one of her managers said.

“There are also a lot of questions about Rwanda from stars that have never been here and these concerts and performances help to enlighten and answer many of their question, many of these performers left very excited about Rwanda and through these collaborations many of the young students are given the chance to be taught and sponsored by some of the artists to study music abroad,” He added.

In a great collaboration between the Goethe institution and spoken word a group of Rwanda’s best poets will be reading some of their famous poems alongside Neka who will be singing some of her international hits such as ‘the uncomfortable truth’ and ‘heart beat’ behind the basketball court this evening.

The event which is free for all will start at 6pm in the evening on the basketball court.

ENDS

The anonymous radio station that has been broadcasting for a while will officially announce its selected name tonight.

Since last year 89.7fm radio station opened its airwaves giving the audience to vote and give their own ideas as to what they would like to name the station.

Tonight at the lavish Serena Hotel, the naming of the nameless radio station will be disclosed at 6pm tonight.

The launch which will be attended be the radios DJ’S, presenters, as well as the members of the marketing team whom had come up with this first and only concept.

They will be cheered alongside special invitees, and a few reporters whom will be there to break the name of the new radio station.

The event which has been a major success has got over 200 calls from the people whom wish not only have their name chosen but also be the lucky winner of the one hundred dollars.

“The reason we cannot disclose any information on the event or of the winner as well as the name is due to allow the event take its own glamour while announcing what has been awaited for, otherwise it will spoil the surprise” one of the organizers told Igihe.com.

The event will be a private function but the announcement of the winner as well as the name of the radio station will be public knowledge.

ENDS

Twenty local popular artists have been listed again for the forthcoming Primus Guma Guma Super Star (PGGSS) phase 1 in preparation for the second star of the competition after the first crowned Tom Close.

Nominations were made by journalist and the list include Afrobeat (Kamichi, Kitoko, Rafiki, Uncle Austin), Hip-Hop(Bull Dogg, Danny Nanone, Riderman, Jay Polly) RnB(Patrick Nyamitari, King James, Emmy, Mani Martin) Females include Paccy, Miss Jojo, Young Grace, Knowless and Groups include Dream Boyz, Just Family, Urban Boyz, The Brothers

PGGSS is being organized by BRALIRWA and East African Promoters (EAP).

After the nominations of 20 people done by journalists; citizens will select only 10 best singers using telephone’ sms.

Ten singers selected, during the competition period, they will get involved in different activities including umuganda services, visiting of orphans as well as genocide memorial sites, getting involved in eradicating nyakatsi (grass thatched houses), and also moving across the country showing their talents among others.

On July 28, at the National Stadium; Amahoro, the winner will be announced in the show that will see one of the worlds’ popular artist of which the name is still withheld anonymous.

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Cameroonian born, German national opera singer, Jacques-Greg Belobo is internationally recognized for being one of Africa’s great experts in classical music.

He has won international prizes such as the International Belvedere in Vienna, Austria in European competitions, graced The hills of Kigali this Tuesday with his mesmerizing and exceptionally talented opera voice.

Jacques-Greg Belobo who is currently based in Berlin at the Semperoper in Dresden, Germany came to Rwanda to perform his solo concert dubbed sacred songs and also in collaboration with the Goethe- Institute and the French institute of Rwanda Joint effort with the to start a project to train Rwandan choir and solo artists in the art of opera.

But before any of these great musical lessons started, Belobo gave the people that came from all corners of the globe to the chapel du centre Emmanuel in Kigali an outstanding performance.

Standing dead center of the stage, completely motionless and only his voice as proof that he was actually there , he bellowed out the most powerful ,vibrant, and intimate voice that not only shook the walls of the chapel but made even the crowd emotional and attempt to join in.

The beloved opera singer was not alone though, he was accompanied by the talented piano accompanist Simon Pierre Ndoyé whose notes went perfectly with Belobo’s voice.

With world loved songs such as “Ave Maria’, “His got the whole world”, “O divin redempteur”, “Crucifixus” and others he started the show with great energy that lit up the whole stage and finished it with two beautiful traditional Cameroonian songs”Kur’te me ngol, a Nti” and “A teta su nye”

Belobo who was here for only a short while will be returning to Rwanda in the fall of 2012 as well as in January 2013 for the final selection of the best two singers whom will be given the great opportunity to go and study music in Germany with the great Jacques-Greg Belobo as their mentor.

Rwanda’s dancehall artist Crispin Ngabirama is organizing a concert to award local reggae artists whom he claims have been abandoned in various local music awards.

Among the awards he criticized is Salax, a yearly reward given to local musicians, but minimal or no recognition is shown to reggae musicians.

Those mainly favored include; genres related to R&B, Hip-hop, Afro-beat and traditional.

Attempting to respond to the matter, the chief organizer of Salax awards Mike Karangwa disagreed with Ngabirama’s argument adding that most local reggae musicians show a lesser will in the competitions.

“I can’t be blamed for a group of musicians who are hesitant to compete. The contests are open to all musicians irrespective of their type of music.

Though the category of reggae is not indicated in our categories we still classify Reggae under Afro-fusion since both genres have a lot in common,” he explained.

Ngabirama, who is gaining popularity for his latest hit ‘Dieu d’Afrique’ is not satisfied and wants full recognition of Reggae musicians.

Currently he is having talks with renowned reggae band members from Holly Jah Doves and musician Ben Rutabana on how to organize a concert to award reggae artists.

He further points out that Reggae songs are more advantageous compared to other genres since they portray educative messages which are especially based on behavior change, unlike R&B which talks about romance and love.

It is now three hours after the last minute of the year 2011 clocked and Rwandans are still walking to and from on streets of Kigali City celebrating to begin New Year 2012.

When the last minute of 2012 clocked the city got filled with voices from every corner as Rwandans jubilated.

Sounds of music from almost every door, churches, and Bars polluted the air as motorcycles gained momentum of hurrying different passengers to their respective destinations.

Police patrol on alert driving on every road keeping order as usual and others deployed on some particular locations that would have ciaos while letting people shouting and jubilating for putting back the old year.

Different Christians in their respective churches sunk into praise and worship thanking God to enable them pass through 2011 and praying for guidance in the next year ahead of them.

Different cycles of friends stood on road sides as they shared joy of completing 2011 and entering 2012.

Some drunkards dancing in the middle of road while others were shouting at the top of their voices.

Some sat steady in their seats in different ordering for more beers while others calling it off to go and sleep.

Families have had time to share great moments together relaxed either in some joints, places of worship and their own homes.

Almost everybody left indoors include old people, boys and girls, women and men, joining their long time friends to celebrate in their own styles.

Different local and regional artists have thrilled their funs in different well distributed concerts in different joints, some sponsored by hotels, or bars to entertain their customers while others launching their albums.

The East African Promoters have organized the East African Party at the Expo Ground in Gikondo attracting superstars in the region.

The party kicked off at 7p.m. where lots of funs have gone to have time with their idols not minding tickets sold at Rwf2000 (ordinary section) and Rwf5000 (VIP section).

The party features top local artistes, such as Jay Polly, Kitoko, Tom Close, King James, Riderman, Uncle Austin, Knowles and Dream Boyz. Canada-based Rwandan artistes Frankie Joe and Dady Cassanova, alias Dady Cassa, are also expected to be on the stage.

Equally expected are stars Kidum (Kenya-based Burundian artiste) and Flavor (Nigeria); both of whom have vowed to rock concertgoers into the New Year 2012.

The grand annual end-of-year party, Happy People Party, is also set at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (Minaffet) Gardens in Kimihurura, Kigali.

This time, the party, famous for its fireworks displays will bring South Africa’s DJ Bego, who will play alongside Rwanda’s DJ Karim, at Quelque Part Bar & Restaurant and Sundowner in Kigali.

DJ Bego, a resident DJ at Club Hush (Ex-Moloko) in Johannesburg, South Africa, replaces Kenyan DJ Styles, who graced the previous three editions of the New Year’s Eve main bash.

Ugandan artiste Jose Chameleon will stage his end-of-year performances in Kigali at The Manor Hotel in Nyarutarama.

ENDS

Minutes after organizers of the Kenyan based Kigeugeu star Jaguar’s concert finished installing relevant equipments to make the show an electrifying one, police on patrol stormed the venue at hotel Sports View at around 11 pm and ordered the deejay to stop music.

The two police officers at the rank of chief inspectors ordered the hotel manager to cancel the event. However, by the time the show was called off, no one had paid entrance fees.

IGIHE.com approached the Police officers to inquire about their decision. “We are not answerable to you at all so mind your own business,” said the police officer at a rank of a chief inspector.

The hotel manager allegedly an ex Police constable claimed that he wasn’t sure if the organizers had requested the police administration to hold a concert till dawn.

“This hotel manager is one of them he can’t assist us. We don’t have a choice but to wait for tomorrow (today) at the stadium, “ remarked one of the organizers only identified as Karis.

“Hey guys the show is over start packing everything,” he ordered the deejay.

Jaguar will perform today (Saturday 24th) at Petit Stadium starting from 4pm to around 9pm.

Meanwhile, Kigali City Council (KCC) has enforced a ban to all concerts going beyond midnight including even the gospel concerts.

While police stopped jaguar’s concert opposite the venue there was an ongoing gospel concert at Amahoro National Stadium which according to participants ended at around 3am.

Police spokesman Chief Supt Theos Badege has on frequent occasions cautioned against late night concerts arguing that they tend to disturb those uncomfortable with loud music while resting.

The ban further restricts alcohol consumption to people below 21 years.

The Tusker project fame stars Bernard Ng’ang’alito and Peter Msechu have arrived in Rwanda where they are slated to perform along with Rwanda’s Alpha Rwirangira during X-mas concert at Car Wash named ‘Alpha Band with Families’.

Also TPF’s stars Patricia Kihoro and Ian Mbugua will be in the country at the ‘Alpha Band with Families’ concert on Xmas day.

Nga’ngalito and Judge Ian both popular in the third Tusker Project Fame (TPF3) a regional singing competition, will perform alongside Alpha Rwirangira on Christmas day at Kigali’s Car Wash restaurant.

According to Alpha, part of the revenue obtained from the concert will be used to support orphaned children.

“Entrance fee for adults is Frw5000 and Frw3000 for children, “I call upon people to attend in big numbers so that we can also have fun with the less fortunate and also support local musicians,” he said.

Also there’re will be a singing competition for children.Contestants will be given points by Judge Ian known to be tough yet entertaining.

Other local musicians with similar concerts on the same day include Kizito Mihigo, Mani Martin, Maranatha family among others.

Mani Martin a local musician is slated to perform a Christmas concert 23rd December at Kimironko Agahozo neighbourhood. The funds raised at the performance will be used to support orphaned children in the sector.

Mani noted that the concert was in line with his annual agenda of visiting and having fun with the needy since during the festive season people tend to be neglected.

“I thank God for giving me a singing talent , and one of the ways to thank him is by showing love to the vulnerable,” he said. Mani says the initiative started in 2007.

“In this respect I postponed my album launch dubbed “Intero y’Amahoro” in order to share with the orphaned kids.”

Most of orphans wish to attend concerts and feel entertained by musicians but they can’t make afford due to their financial strains,” he said.

The former Gospel musician switched to secular music.