Rwandan showbiz was marked by a mix of fetes, performances and some unfortunate developments, all of which, in the end, kept the entertainment scene abuzz.
From Ubumuntu Arts Festival’s 10-year anniversary to comedian Sam Zuby missing out on chance to secure a parliamentary seat as a youth representative despite weeks of powerful campaigns, The New Times highlights stories that trended most in Rwanda’s entertainment scene over the week.
Ubumuntu Arts Festival fetes 10 years of impact
Marking its 10-year anniversary, Ubumuntu Arts Festival celebrated tremendous evolution and the indelible impact it has had to both renowned artists and emerging talents from all walks of life who managed to utilise art as a platform to foster societal transformation.
The special 10th edition of the festival opened Friday, July 19 and it will run until July 28 under the theme "Integrity: Resilience in the Face of Adversity.”
Particularly, this year’s edition honours artists who have shown steadfast commitment and innovative spirit. The event activities are being held at the Kigali Genocide Memorial's amphitheatre. Some sessions will take place in Nyamata, Bugesera District.
One performance, "Generation 25" by Mashirika Performing Arts and Media Company, stood out on the opening day.
Written and directed by Hope Azeda and Yannick Kamanzi, the play which featured Rwandan artists including rapper King Kivumbi and Peace Jolis centers around breaking the silence 30 years after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, an atrocity that claimed over 1 million lives of innocent Tutsi.
The United States, Pakistan, South Africa, DR Congo, France, Sri Lanka, Burundi, Kosovo, Spain, Uganda, Belgium, Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and host nation Rwanda are among countries represented at the festival.
P Fla welcomed in Dubai
Rwandan rapper P-Fla made his debut performance in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The 37-year-old received a welcoming reception by members of the Rwandan community upon arrival in Dubai and he returned the affection with a powerful performance in a show held at Matrix African Club on July 20.
Fla is one of the most prominent rappers that Rwanda produced. He is known for his fierce verses in his Hip Hop songs, singles or collaborations, that he dropped in various times.
Comedian Sam Zuby loses youth parliamentary polls
It was a campaign to forget for comedian Samson Muco who only managed just one vote from the just-concluded parliamentary polls.
The comedian, commonly known as Sam Zuby, made it on National Electoral Commission (NEC)’s final list of 31 candidates qualified to run for the two youth seats which were up for grabs in parliament but it didn’t go as planned after losing a seat in the elections.
A host of celebrities backed the comedian for ‘trying his chance’ and encouraged him to go for another chance during the next parliamentary polls.