It has been dubbed the “homecoming” show by some and all stops have been pulled to make the Rwandan-Belgian singer Stromae’s concert in Kigali, an unforgettable one.
It has been dubbed the "homecoming” show by some and all stops have been pulled to make the Rwandan-Belgian singer Stromae’s concert in Kigali, an unforgettable one.
Born Paul Van Haver to a Rwandan father and a Flemish mother, Stromae is expected to arrive in the country three days prior his June 20 concert and will use the chance to meet his paternal relatives most of whom he had never met before.
Video: Papaoutai by Stromae.
Talking to Al Jazeera about the trip, Stromae said that coming to Rwanda for the first time will be special.
"Being there again? It’s gonna be special. It’s gonna be really deep, really important I think because that is my origin. I will meet my family, family that I’ve never met and family that I met once or twice. I can imagine it’s gonna be lots of feelings, emotions to discover,” he said.
Video: Alors On Danse by Stromae.
Speaking at a press conference at Telecom House yesterday, Judo Kanobana, the Director of Positive Production (the organizers of the show), said that the show is a test for the Rwandan media industry to gauge itself.
"We were given an opportunity to show that we are capable of showcasing Rwanda in a positive way. We have the support of the private sector, let us come together to support this project so that the creative industry can prove its capabilities,” he added.
Video: Formidable (ceci n'est pas une leçon) by Stromae.
According to Kanobana, 1,000 people from other countries have already booked tickets for the show.Before arriving in Rwanda, Stromae will perform in 8 cities, including Dakar, Praia, Douala, Abidjan, Libreville, Brazzaville and Kinshasa.
Stromae's sensational hits Alors On Danse, his first single released in September 2009 and Papaoutai , the lead single from 2013 Album Racine Carrée are top examples of his mesmerizing music style that has earned him a global following and made him a household name in Rwanda.