When celebrated Belgian Pianist Jeff Neve and Cecile Kayirebwa met on the stage, it was a case of talent and experience coming together, to the delight of those who turned up at Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) Auditorium in Kimihurura on Friday evening.

Everything went as earlier announced, the number of people was strictly 350, the show started on time, 8pm, and ended right on time.

It is not the first time the Belgian pianist was performing in East Africa. He has performed in Kenya several times, but it is the first time he was performing in Rwanda and he left a mark.

The singer, who supports several music initiatives on the continent including Ghetto Classics, a music school of 700 students in the slums of Nairobi, Kenya, said that he was delighted to perform in Rwanda.

"I am happy to be here and to perform in Rwanda. I would like to thank the Ambassador of Belgium for inviting me here,” Neve said, before entering into a breathtaking performance of classic songs on the piano.

The show was ecstatic in all aspects. People were entertained by Neve’s performance on the piano, the kind of performance that has made him a global maestro on the instrument.

He knows how to keep the audience captivated and, from start to finish, the concert proved to be unique and left the audience begging for more even when it ended.

The 39-year-old performed his popular songs such as ‘autumn in New York’, ‘For all we know’, ‘the Sacrifice’, ‘Tenderly’, ‘For all we know’, ‘Embraceable you’ and many others, which he first explained to the audience before performing them.

He later performed ‘Stromae’s ‘Formidable’ , to the delight of those in attendance.

It was then time for Kayirebwa to get on stage and perform with Neve and upcoming Inanga artiste Deo Munyakazi. The singer, who recently turned 70, and the two instrumentalists entertained the audience on an evening of quality music as Rwanda met Belgium.

The show was attended by senior government officials and diplomats. The Belgian envoy to Rwanda, Amb. Arnout Pauwels, said that it was a milestone for Neve to perform in Rwanda.

Neve, who over the weekend visited Nyudo Music School in Rubavu and engaged students there, was due to stage one last concert on Sunday at the Belgian embassy in Kigali.

In a news conference prior to the show, Neve said that he was very happy to discover more about Rwanda and the local music scene, noting that he is looking forward to ‘building up something’ in Rwanda to support the arts industry.

Kayirebwa, said that she was delighted to meet Neve and expected to work with him on different projects, music and otherwise, and to share valuable experiences.

Neve came to Rwanda after a performance in Kampala, Uganda. The Belgian envoy said that the pianist brings to Rwanda lots of experience and knowledge.

The show was sponsored by the Belgian Embassy in Rwanda, Skol Lager, Rwanda Revenue Authority, AFROGROOV, SN Brussels, Rwanda Mountain Tea and Positive Production, among others.

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