Gospel singer Israel Mbonyi and his band are set to perform in Israel in April next year, thanks to #TwendeJerusalem translated as ‘we go to Jerusalem’- an initiative by the Israel Embassy in Rwanda and other partners to promote youth talents in creative and other critical socio-cultural aspects including performing arts.

Mbonyi who is the first beneficiary of the initiative will visit and perform at different sites of the Holy Land such as Galilea, Golgotha and Nazareth among others.

Speaking to the press, the artist welcomed the initiative, pointing out that it is an opportunity to expose his music further and use his talent to impact people in different parts of the world.

"I am so excited and thankful to Israel’s Embassy in Rwanda for this opportunity to not only explore the beauty of Israel for the first time, but also sing from there together with my entire band.”

"This is a good initiative that will put the Rwandan music industry on a higher-level because there will be more local artistes given the same opportunity, hence more exposure of our Rwandan music,” he added.

The Ambassador of Israel in Rwanda, Ambassador Ron Adam, also noted that #TwendeJerusalem will foster the already existing good cooperation between Rwanda and Israel in different sectors.

"We believe that the relations between Israel and Rwanda should not only rely on agriculture, health and education among others, but also include art, which we have embarked on this time,” he said.

"We have started with Mbonyi, but the project is wide and we will send more individuals in Israel, and invite Israeli artists in Rwanda as well,”

The Ambassador explained that the reason why Mbonyi’s concert was scheduled for next year was because of the ongoing hike in COVID-19 cases worldwide, a situation that is expected to have normalized by the time of the event.