After one of its most memorable editions last weekend, the Kigali Jazz Junction takes a well deserved one month break. When it returns in December for its end-of-year edition, it will be at the beginning of the month, December 7, as opposed to the traditional last Friday of the month.

The Jazz Junction registered one of the biggest crowd turnout at last Friday’s edition, which was headlined by Zimbabwean Afro Jazz icon Oliver Mtukudzi. Performing in Rwanda for his first time, Mtukudzi delivered a spell-binding one and a half hour performance that will go down in the annals of Kigali Jazz Junction’s history as one of the most memorable.

Last Friday’s edition drew thousands of revellers who came to  witness the musical display on offer, and they were not  disappointed. Photo by Faustin Niyigena.

So memorable was the concert inside the outside marquee at the Kigali Serena Hotel, jazz enthusiasts will not miss the one month hiatus as the forum takes a strategic break.

"Our audience knows that this end of year edition comes in early December, reason being we don’t do end of December as there is a lot to party with, but also we take a break in November to prepare for the end of year concert for six weeks in advance, as it requires us more time to publicize, knowing end of year events are many so we don’t take the market for granted,” noted Remmy Lubega, managing director of RG Consult Inc, organisers of the Kigali Jazz Junction, in collaboration with Neptunez

"We also know that our audience travels for Christmas starting around December 10, so we put all these factors into consideration for us to give them a good sendoff.

Local R&B star Bruce Melodie was the opening act for the Zimbabwean music icon, and he amazed the crowd with his improvised performance.

"Every year, the Kigali Jazz Junction takes a break in at least four of the twelve months in a year; January, April, July or August, and November.

"In July or August that’s when we do the Legends Alive concert. Last year, we held the International Jazz Day celebrations for the first time in Rwanda at the end of April, and we will be holding it every year,” Lubega added.

Later in the course of the week, organisers will announce the headline performers for the December edition of the Jazz Junction.

Already, all indications are that a Francophone musician will be picked to headline this year ender edition.

"We are looking for a dynamic Francophone artiste so that this segment of our fans also gets a piece of the Kigali Jazz Junction, and now that Rwanda is heading the Francophone version of the Commonwealth, we should rise up to the occasion,” Lubega noted.

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