FRENCH rapper of Congolese descent, Youssoupha Mabiki, commonly known as Youssoupha, has been confirmed among artistes who will grace the forthcoming second edition of the AIC-MOCA festival slated from June 30 to July 3 in Kigali.

The festival is a joint project by Africa in Colors (AIC), a Rwandan-based art initiative represented by Raoul Rugamba, and Movement of Creatives Africas (MOCA), an initiative represented by Cameroonian art entrepreneur Alain Bidjeck.

The rapper is specifically on the line-up of the main artistes who will close the festival alongside other music acts whose names are yet to be communicated.

Rugamba, the brains behind the festival, says having Youssoupha on stage in Kigali will not only benefit the local music industry, but it will also make the festival more entertaining.

"This is a great thing for the Rwandan music scene, and we are looking forward to doing a lot during the festival. His presence at the festival is beyond a simple concert, but sharing, meeting and collaborating with local artistes, meeting the Rwandan culture, and learning about business opportunities Rwanda offers to creatives,” says Rugamba.

The festival is expected to bring together creatives in music, visual arts, fashion, filmmaking and production, among others.

Organisers are putting in place masterclass workshops, conferences, tours, cultural exhibitions and B2B meetings, among other initiatives, on the festival agenda for creatives, local and international, to share experiences on how best they can turn their creatives into gold.

Concerts, video gaming, virtual reality will also be organised to ensure participants and the audience in general is entertained during the festival.

Who is Youssoupha?

Youssoupha, 29, was born to a Congolese father, the musician and Congo-Kinshasa political figure Tabu Ley Rochereau and a Senegalese mother.

After spending his childhood in Congo-Kinshasa, at the age of 10, he moved to France to live with relatives in Beziers, then Osny, Cergy and Sartrouville.

He finished his French baccalaureate at Académie de Versailles with high grades and continued with Cultural Mediation, Communication at Roanne and La Guillotière. After obtaining a Master’s degree, he dedicated himself to music.

His first album ‘Frères Lumières’ was with two other friends. He was also involved in many musical projects including the album ‘Tendance’ by the band Bana Kin (with Sinistre Kozi Philo and Mic genie).