The environment at Kigali Convention Centre was purely fun and entertainment as performances from Ric Hassani and co-headliners on Saturday, December 4, made Symphony Band’s live concert a show that left revelers yearning for more time to party.

Unlike their routine role of backing up artistes, the ‘Fantasy Music’ concert was the very first that the band performed as main headliners since they introduced themselves in the music business in 2016.

There were fears that Koffi Olomide’s concert at Kigali Arena which was going on at the same time would affect the turn up at Symphony’s concert but both shows shared the numbers.

Mike Kayihura perfoming

The turn up at Kigali Convention Centre was fair but not enough to fill the venue to its capacity and revellers from the regular side were allowed to leave their places to fill in the VIP area.

However, The New Times has established that a many concert goers had to be turned away at the entrance after failing to present two doses of Covid-19 vaccine, in a last minute decision that did not impress organisers who in the first place were told that one dose of vaccine was enough for the public to attend the show.

Despite the mishap, the show had to go on, maybe a bit later than earlier scheduled, and the present audience was excited by impressive performances from each of the headliners on the concert lineup.

Mighty Popo who had a major role in the lives of members of Simphony Band when they were students at Nyundo Music School and Platini Nemeye attended the show as guests.

The band has built a name for themselves at backing artists in different concerts but the boys this time round wanted to prove that they can do a solo performance as main headliners.

And they did so from the minute concert host Ally Soudi called them on stage.

Led by Joachim and Jackson, they took up to the stage a few minutes past 8pm with a welcome performance of a few of their songs like ‘Idee’ (featuring Alyn Sano), 'Replay' and 'I Miss You' among others.

Ladies were overcome with emotions  when Ric Hassani took the stage to perform.

The band is widely known for performing other artistes’ songs but the whole idea of the concert was for them to show the audience that they have their own songs.

The likes of Confy, Nel Ngabo and Mike Kayihura joined the band to celebrate its milestones and their performances were what concert their music fans were looking forward to as well…and they did not disappoint.

Fast-rising singer Nel Ngabo was shown some love when he performed his songs like ‘Tayari’ and ‘Sawa’. He and his dancers had their show of the night when they performed his single ‘Nywe’, which left everyone leaving their seats to sing and dance along before Bruce Melodie joined him on stage to perform their latest collabo ‘Mutuale’.

Performing songs like ‘Pole’, ‘Panga’ and Mali, Confy’s performance also left a statement that the youngster’s future in music is bright, should he stay consistent.

Ric Hassani was also waiting to deliver the music he promised music lovers since he announced his performance in Kigali in November.

It is fair to say that the Nigerian fell in love with Rwanda from his first day in Kigali five days prior to the concert.

During his stay, Hassani visited and paid respect to over 250 000 Tutsi victims laid to rest at Kigali Genocide Memorial and toured Kigali city alongside Symphony band before paying a visit to Nyundo school of Arts and Music.

The singer introduced himself to Kigali revelers with ‘Only You’, which was believed to be their favorite of the show until he made everyone at the venue feel excited when he performee Meddy’s song ‘Slowly’.

He exchanged the stage with Mike Kayihura who also entertained music lovers with his songs like ‘Tuza’ and his latest before the Nigerian singer returned to stage in the closing stages of the show with performance of songs like ‘The African Gentleman’, ‘Number One’, ‘Thunder Fire You’ and ‘Everything’ while mixing with performances of songs from his favorites artistes like Ed Sheran.

The show ended at 10.30pm

Bruce Melodie (in black cap) sitting with other guests as they enjoyed the show at Kigali Convention Centre

Confy on stage

Nel Ngabo performing

Symphony band performing