In a soulful night of musical showcase, Rwandan singer and songwriter Kenny Mirasano launched his debut album ‘Umuntu’ at the Institut Francais in Kimihurura on Friday, May 24.
Mirasano, known for his unique ability to seamlessly blend traditional music with contemporary styles, mesmerized a diverse audience from all walks of life.
The evening commenced around 7:40PM with Mirasano's enthralling performance of tracks from his maiden album which is loosely translated as ‘human.’
From the soulful melodies of 'Love' to the infectious rhythms of 'Umva', Mirasano's collection showcased the depth and versatility of his musical talent. Other notable highlights included 'Moving On', a collaboration featuring Jonathan and Gatete, and 'Wowe', 'Amazi', and 'Ryangombe', each resonating with the audience in its own unique way.
A particularly mesmerizing moment arose during the rendition of 'Wowe', as the singer was joined on stage by fellow artist Dawidi with whom they delivered a compelling performance of the song which they co-wrote during their time studying music at Nyundo School of Arts.
Accompanied by his band, Mirasano demonstrated his skills as a live performer, hyping the crowd with his emotive vocals and seamless integration of various musical instruments. The palpable energy in the room left attendees yearning for more, a testament to the singer's ability to connect with his audience on a profound level.
In a gracious display of appreciation, Mirasano concluded the evening by expressing heartfelt gratitude to the enthusiastic crowd for their unwavering support and to the individuals who contributed to the album's fruition.
As the curtains closed on this memorable event, Mirasano announced the official release date of 'Umuntu', February 2, 2025, a date imbued with personal significance.
Mirasano began singing at 15. Music was his second choice after he missed out on chance to feature in the rugby team at the high school he was attending.
At the time, he formed a singing group with his friends and ended up becoming their conductor. He said that music became part of his daily life ever since, something which compelled him to figure out that he was talented and later in 2018 joined Nyundo School of Music.
The artiste has performed on both local and international stages including JAMAFEST 2019 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Les Ateliers de la Pensée in Dakar, Senegal, Little Kesho performance in Sevran, France, as well as Visa for Music Africa 2022 in Rabat, Morocco.