With just six days left until Christmas, the festive season has kicked in with the City of Kigali already in the festive mood as residents prepare to celebrate the first Christmas without Covid-19 restrictions in nearly three years.

Main streets and downtown are lit in effervescent colours as Christmas décor takes centre stage. Corporate companies are competing for the streets with the best visibility as Christmas trees and Santa Claus and mock reindeers pop everywhere.

It is a Christmas like no other, at least in the past two Christmases were characterised by curfews and other Covid-19 preventive measures that prevented people from congregating and celebrating in crowds.

The excitement buoyed with promised freedom can be felt in the air. Despite the inflation effects, traders are hoping to cash in this festive season more than they did in the past two years, mainly because people stayed home as new coronavirus variants led to cautious celebrations.

"We are hoping to see more buyers coming in as Christmas and the New Year approach. Rwandans have understood the importance of celebrating the festive season,” says Geraldine Kayumba, a businesswoman based in CHIC Mall located downtown.

The building is teeming with buyers looking to take advantage of early prices to avoid being caught up as days approach.

"We are seeing more people from upcountry coming to buy clothes for the festive season. We haven’t received as many buyers as we expect but this is by far better than 2020 and 2021 when we were literally closed,” Kayumba said.

Shops in town have stocked up goods for Christmas including Christmas trees, decorations and lighting but shop owners are lamenting about mobile hawkers of festive season merchandise causing jitters among shop owners who accuse street vendors of hijacking clients.

"We have customers but we are competing with hawkers on the streets selling the same goods yet they don’t pay taxes, but we shop owners are expected to pay taxes and other fees,” said Hamud Kalisa, a shop owner downtown.

"We want city authorities to come in and ensure that there is no chaos which confuses clients. We want to do business in a more organised way so that people can fully experience a good festive season,” he added.

In Kimironko and Nyarugenge markets which The New Times visited, curious shoppers are already stocking up on foodstuffs and fruits to avoid an anticipated price hike or shortage as Christmas approaches.

"Prices have been unstable lately, so you are better off stocking up on a few things that don’t necessarily have to be fresh,” said Ogumide Adeola, a Nigerian living in Rwanda, who regularly shops from Kimironko market.

Traders in the two markets are anticipating an upsurge in buyers next week, with anticipation that as people get paid their salaries before Christmas.

"We expect more buyers next week because by then people will have been paid perhaps but we are already experiencing some increase in customers especially of foodstuffs,” said Mariana Mupole a vendor in Kimironko market.

Some of the buyers who spoke to The New Times said that the price hike is already being felt in downtown where the prices have slightly increased by 10 to 20 percent on most goods.

Balbine Cyuzuzo, a cosmetic dealer said most of the items she buys to distribute upcountry have increased in prices yet transport costs also increased.

"A product I was buying at Rwf1,000 a few months ago is now at Rwf1,200 or Rwf1,400 and we hope traders don’t increase the prices more as the festive season gets closer,” she said.

A city in lights

Downtown, streets and buildings are lit in bright Christmas colours, right from the main roundabout in town linking KN1, KN2 and KN3 streets, looking majestic at night, thanks to Bank of Kigali.

The stretch of KN3 right from town to where it joins KN5, going up to the airport is all lit at night with mock Christmas trees draped in lights standing between the equally lit palm trees.

Rwandans have taken to social media to appreciate efforts to decorate the city, with the City of Kigali building seemingly leading by example with exquisite Christmas lighting.

Several buildings including the I&M Building in town, Bank of Kigali and many others have outdone themselves, in what seems like a competition to show who is shining more than the other.

The lighting and décor ushering in the festive season have got city dwellers upbeat, anticipating a more joyous Christmas, despite economic shortfalls and frugality that many might experience this festive season.

"Overall, I expect a more optimistic, forward looking and joyous festive season than the past two years because most importantly we are free, not under any pandemic restrictions,”

"Regardless of the cash crunch, at least we have an opportunity to convene as families and enjoy together whatever we have, as long as we have hope that God is with us,” said Bernard Bahati Gakwandi, a resident of Nyarugenge sector, in Nyarugenge district.

Several shows and concerts have been organised to spice up the festive season and kick in the new year, with public gatherings and events fully permitted.