The singer will perform on Saturday, September 5, a day after the 21st Kwita Izina Gorilla Naming Ceremony in Kinigi, Musanze District. The ceremony is scheduled for September 4 under the theme “Conservation is Life: Sustaining the Future.”
Rema, whose real name is Divine Ikubor, will be joined by Rwandan and regional performers, with local artiste Kivumbi King already confirmed among the opening acts. More artists are expected to be announced ahead of the concert.
The concert will serve as the entertainment finale to this year’s Kwita Izina celebrations, which bring together conservationists, government officials, tourism stakeholders, communities and international visitors to celebrate Rwanda’s mountain gorilla conservation efforts.
Rema has established himself as one of Africa’s most recognisable Afrobeats artists, gaining international attention with songs including “Dumebi,” “Iron Man,” “Woman,” “Soundgasm,” “Charm” and “Calm Down.”
His global breakthrough was further boosted by the remix of “Calm Down” featuring American singer Selena Gomez. The song peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became one of the most successful Afrobeats crossover records internationally.
The Nigerian star has also collected several major honours, including the MTV Video Music Award for Best Afrobeats and the Billboard Music Award for Top Afrobeats Song for “Calm Down.” In 2023, he was named Global African Artist and Song of the Year at the Trace Awards in Kigali.
His 2024 album HEIS earned him his first Grammy nomination, adding to his growing list of international achievements.
For Rwanda, Rema’s appearance adds another high-profile entertainment component to Kwita Izina, an event that has expanded beyond the gorilla naming ceremony to showcase the country’s conservation, tourism and cultural ambitions.
Irène Murerwa, Chief Tourism Officer at the Rwanda Development Board, said Kwita Izina is also an opportunity to celebrate Rwanda’s culture and people.
“We are excited to welcome Rema to Kigali for what promises to be a great night at BK Arena,” she said, inviting Rwandans, visitors and music fans from across the region to attend the September 5 concert.
The concert is expected to draw music fans from Rwanda and neighbouring countries, while further strengthening Kigali’s position as a destination for major international entertainment events.
Kwita Izina was launched as an annual gorilla naming ceremony in 2005 and was inspired by the Rwandan tradition of naming children soon after birth. According to the Rwanda Development Board, 438 mountain gorillas have been named through the ceremony since its inception.
Over the years, the event has grown into a major conservation gathering, bringing together researchers, policymakers, conservationists, tourism operators, business leaders and communities around Rwanda’s mountain gorilla habitat.
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