The year 2009 is one year that deserves making it to the Rwandan books of history, art-wise. Talk about quality of music or even quantity of new figures pouring into the game, talk about the awe-inspiring gigs that changed the face of music in seconds, everything was fly.

Our ‘kiddos’ have excelled beyond local borders in the year 2009. The night life has moved a step towards good-quality in the same one year.

Today, let’s try perusing through the events and parties that need to go to the music museum, off the year 2009.

Let’s start with the time of fireworks late 31st Dec at the Expo grounds on the East African Party. You remember how Uganda’s Michael Ross and the Blue 3 rocked the stage, and how Juliana and Kenya’s Nameless sent the crowd screaming?

Even the locals, likes of Jojo, Coga-boy Rafiki and KGB tried their best, and the gig played well ushering into a good year.

We again saw fireworks at the Bralirwa 50th anniversary in August this year at the Amahoro stadium. Local Afro-beat giants Kitoko and Rafiki raised the curtains for traditional-blues veteran Cecile Kairebwa who also did the perfect thing with her live percussion.

Ugandan hotties, the Blue 3 charmed the crowds with their performances and the long awaited Nigerian duo P-Square kept the spirit rolling with their famed songs.

It was Congolese Papa Cheli with his queen dancers who lowered the curtains at midnight.

2008 ‘Salux artist of the year’ Tom Close launched his second album Sibeza, presenting Uganda’s duo Radio and Weasle.

The fans went untamed when songster Meddy came to stage, and then Radio and Weasle themselves.

It was now Tusker Project Fame hero Alpha holding the Rwandan national flag at the ‘Tusker academy’ and no one stood in his way. He made the country proud, the showbiz richer and his wallet heavier when he won the competition.

MTN Tuwukate concert came back in December awarding local artists Tom Close, Kitoko and Diplomat and presenting Tusker Project Fame (TFP 3) at the breathtaking show.

Rwandan art again gained a step ahead on October 12, 2009 when the Miss Rwanda beauty contest was re-launched after 17 years. It went well, courtesy of Rwandatel and on December 19, 18 year-old Grace Bahati was crowned Miss Rwanda. On same night somewhere in Dar-es-salaam, Cynthia Akazuba was crowned Miss East Africa.

And on Christmas Eve, we saw Meddy’s amazing album launch concert. You saw how amazing the performances were and how large the number of fans turned in.

The Amayobera album fits being named the best album launch concert ever in Rwanda.

This is the year that has changed entertainment so it has to be remembered. The quality of music systems, the performances of artists and the number of fans partying has grown notably. The year 2009 has been a year of entertainment. Let’s watch out for 2010.

Ends