Different artists are converging in a fundraising concert to support legendary cultural artist Mzee Sentore who is said to be hospitalized at Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya.

The concert to be held this Friday Feb 11, 2011 at the Cultural Tent near Amahoro National Stadium is organized by the artists’ association, Isoko.

Mzee Athanase Sentore has been a cultural singer, composer and dancer behind almost every successful cultural artist including his own son, a popular Rwandan artist, Masamba Intore and the Urukerereza National Ballet, among others.

He has been the trainer and advisor of the national ballet which has brought home international trophies and representing Rwanda’s cultural image in countries like German, Spain and Canada, among other countries.

Speaking to The New Times, Jean Marie Muyango, in charge of inviting different artists in the organizing committee, said that ten artists have already confirmed their presence and performance at the charitable concert.

Among those who have confirmed their participation is Maria Yohana Mukankuranga, renowned for ‘Intsinzi bana b’u Rwanda, Belgian-based Rwandan cultural artist Cecile Kayirebwa, Miss Channel and his son Masamba Intore.

The entrance fee will be Rwf 5000 per person.
According to Muyango, Mzee Sentore has a blood circulation problem which has affected his ability to walk properly

Miss Channel, one of the popular Rwandan artists said it is human to help and that it has become a custom among them to help other artists who need support.

Masamba who is now in Nairobi where Sentore is hospitalized, told The New Times that his father was being examined by doctors and was undergoing various examinations.

He said that Mzee Sentore was in a critical condition.
Mzee Sentore was born in 1934 to Chief Muzenze of Nyaruguru, one of the aides of the King at that time .

He later joined King Mutara Rudahigwa’s cultural troupe Indashyikirwa which represented Rwanda in a cultural exposition in Brussels in 1958.

Since then he has never ceased to perform and train young generations in Rwandan culture and mentoring upcoming cultural artists even when he was a refugee in Burundi where he formed a powerful cultural troupe also called Indashyikirwa.
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