Rwanda’s fast-rising star Christiane Bukuru, also known on stages as Boukuru, officially launched her debut album, ‘Gikundiro’, before loyal fans at Norrsken Kigali, on September 6, delivering a mesmerizing live performance that showcased her incredible talent and the depth of her new music.
Though the crowd was not overwhelmingly large, the energy was electric, with everyone fully immersed in the vibe from the very beginning of her performance.
Among hundreds of revelers who attended the album launch were former Miss Rwanda winners Naomi Nishimwe (2020), Meghan Nimwiza (2019) and Liliane Iradukunda (2018) as well as members of the first cohort of Art-Rwanda Ubuhanzi from which Boukuru emerged among winners.
The concert opened with performances from some of Rwanda’s notable artists, including Peace Jolis who received plaudits for his live vocals before he was joined by Impakanizi.
Boukuru, the main act of the concert, didn’t take long to step on stage right after Peace Jolis left the stage. She performed in two rounds, exchanging the stage with Alyn Sano who set no tough conditions when Boukuru’s management asker to perform at their artiste’s album launch.
When Boukuru took the stage in a pink jumpsuit for the first round, the anticipation was palpable. She kicked off her set with Gikundiro, the title track of her album, produced by the renowned Michael Makembe and went on drive her audience with her soulful voice and powerful lyrics from various track on her album like ‘Ndagukunda,’ ‘Umwali,’ ‘Rest’ and ‘Wintoteza.”
Alyn Sano was on alert when the singer took a break. Her performance in songs like ‘None’ added unique flavor to the event. She didn’t take much time on stage as Boukuru’s grand occasion arrived, hitting the stage with a different blue dress.
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The duo’s combined talents created an engaging atmosphere that had the audience swaying, cheering, and dancing along to the rhythm of the night.
"I have been following Boukuru since she first started releasing music. Seeing her live tonight was a dream come true. Her voice is even more powerful in person she blew us away. Her songs are so heartfelt and genuine. We left feeling like we really understood her journey through her music,” said Cynthia Kayitare.
The Afrobeat and classical fusion resonated through the venue, capturing the crowd&039;s attention from the very first note. Her soulful voice, paired with the emotional storytelling in her music, created an intimate connection with the audience, making each song feel deeply personal.
The mood was quite entertaining yet engaging as revelers cheered on Boukuru when she performed songs like ‘Ndakubona’ and ‘Umva Iyi Nganzo.’
Despite the intimate size of the audience, the atmosphere remained vibrant throughout the night, until Boukuru took a second turn in a blue long dress, fans were fully engaged and cheering her on during each track.
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"The energy was undeniable. Everyone was dancing, singing along, and just enjoying the moment. Boukuru’s music really brought us all together, and I’m adding all her songs to my playlists because they are so calm,” said Daniel Mugisha.
The launch of ‘Gikundiro’ album may have drawn a modest crowd, but their enthusiasm made the event feel larger than life, proving that sometimes, it’s the vibe and not the numbers that make a show memorable.
By the end of the night, Boukuru had truly cemented her place in Rwanda’s music scene. Her new album, available on all major streaming platforms, is expected to reach audiences far beyond Rwanda’s borders.
As she wrapped up her final performance, the crowd erupted in applause, showing their love for the singer’s music.
You could see people, especially friends and family, congratulating her on her successful album launch. And you could see it in her face that she would find it difficult to hide her emotions.
"I am so excited about the audience’s support, the new me after this album launch,” she told The New Times.
"But there is more to do going forward. I am going to do more featuring, more collaborations, more music.”
‘Gikundiro’ album comprises 11 songs of which three were produced by Michael Makembe, four by Flyest Music and two by Nehemiah Shami while Papi J worked on one song.
Makembe crafted ‘Gikundiro,’ which is named after the album, ‘Ndakubona’ and ‘Umva Iyi Nganzo’ while Shami worked on ‘Ndagukunda,’ ‘Umwali,’ ‘Rest’ and ‘Wintoteza.’ She performed the latter during the 30th commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi held at BK Arena.
Flyest produced two tracks on Boukuru’s album including ‘Gukura’ and ‘Ntacyo Mbaye.’