MIGHTY Popo has a dream. The Ottawa – based Rwandan artiste is organising a music festival dubbed ‘Kigali Up’ in Rwanda that he hopes will bring the spirit of a Canadian music festival to his Central African homeland in September.

‘Kigali Up’ is a family-friendly event that will attract various African and Canadian musicians, such as the Juno-winning Canadian Hip-hop artiste Shad and Blues singer Shakura S’Aida.

The festival has been in the works for years, inspired by the folk festivals that have had such a strong influence on Jacques "Popo” Murigande, who was born in Burundi to Tutsi refugees from Rwanda.

He immigrated to Canada as a teenager and settled in Ottawa, where he was welcomed in the music community. He released his first album in 1997; the latest ‘Gakonda’, was nominated for a Juno Award. Net

Ends