Local artist Christian Hirwa will share the stage with American rapper Akua Naru at Maison de Jeunes in Kimisagara in a free concert tomorrow, September 16.

The concert is part of her "Akua Naru Africa Tour 2016”. Naru will perform as part of her continental tour organised by German’s international cultural institution Goethe Institut.

The concert kicks off at 7p.m.

Widely known for her ability to captivate her audience with an imaginative blend of vibrant instrumental hip-hop, blues, jazz, traditional soul and the sounds of West Africa, Naru is expected to rock the local audiences with her sensual lyrical flow.

The rapper-poet has set her life to the rhythm of numerous journeys, which in turn have influenced her music. She has collaborated with famous musicians like Ahmir Thomson popularly known as Questlove, Tune Yards, Beninese-born American Grammy Award winning singer and activist Angelique Kidjo and Festum, among others.

Since her January 2011 debut album, The Journey Aflame, Naru has established herself as a model for what women can be in hip hop.

Her latest release, The Miner’s Canary, has received overwhelmingly received generally positive reviews from music critics. The music, produced almost entirely by Naru, provides an emotional frame for her consistently political, multi-layered, haunting, and insightful lyricism. 

It is a big opportunity for Hirwa, one of Rwanda’s talented hip-hop dancers, to not only showcase his musical journey but to also share the stage with one of the incredibly talented female hip hop artists in the game.

Hirwa wants to inspire and encourage the next generation to develop hip-hop skills and he thus, started a project called, Hip Hop for Hope and Society. The project is aimed at teaching hip-hop moves to children in order to create positive change in society.

In 2011, the 23-year-old founded a dance crew called Krest crew. In the same year, he organised a dance show which had the purpose to connect Rwandan dancers to the world of dance.

From Kigali, Naru will perform in Kampala on September 18 and conclude her tour in Nairobi, Kenya on September 22.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw