The highly concert ‘Urweje Imana’, on Sunday evening was indeed one for the books as renowned cultural troupe Inyamibwa put up an outstanding show for a fully packed Kigali Conference and Exhibition Village (KCEV) during their 25th anniversary.
The concert that brought together people of different age groups kicked off around 7:20pm with a welcoming performance by Nyundo Drummer kids, who showcased their fabulous skills in drumming as they wowed revelers who were eagerly waiting for the performance of the night by the famous group.
The host Eric Mukiza, who is also a member of dance troupe ‘ Inganzo Ngari’ called Inyamibwa on stage and the whole crowd cheered in excitement.
Chris Muvunyi standing at the center of the venue started singing ‘Inyamibwa U Rwanda Rwejeje Imana’ a mesmerizing voice as he walked passed the fans that cheered him as he headed to the stage. He was then accompanied by another Inyamibwa dancer and singer their vocals set in the audience in mood for the show.
In a variety of beautiful cultural attires, Inyamibwa held consecutive performances with so much energy and beaming smiles as they celebrated 25 years of growth, uniqueness, resilience and loving their culture.
A surprise performance by former Inyamibwa dancers who got up from their seats and headed to the stage brought joy to revelers who hadn't seen them in many years. They entertained the crowd with a few dance moves that had already taken the crowd by storm.
Coming for the second round, Inyamibwa showcased the development of Rwanda relating it also to its growth. They had photos of gorillas, Kigali Convention Center, Arsenal Football team among others to show how the country has evolved over the years. They also performed a song that is about heroes with banners that had the three heroes classifications Imanzi, Imena and Ingenzi.
After their three-hour performance, the Inyamibwa team bowed to the crowd to appreciate them for supporting and coming to celebrate their anniversary together.
In his speech, the coordinator of AERG at National level Audace Udahemuka expressed gratitude to the troupe for pulling off such a big concert and their commitment.He also gifted the troupe a cow.
" I thank RPA Inkotanyi for fighting for our country and stopping the Genocide against the Tutsi in 1994. We wouldn’t be here today, looking and feeling happy if it was not for them. We recognize Inyamibwa’s hard work for the past years and wish them continuous growth, he said.
Among dignitaries and celebrities that attended the show, include Minister of Trade and Industry Dr Jean Chrysostome Ngabitsinze, Masamba Intore, Jules, Sentore and Ruti Joel among many others.
The group, one of the few that have endured the test of time, held their previous concert in 2018 as they marked their 20th anniversary. A fully packed Camp Kigali witnessed the troupe's spectacular performance, which included drumming, dancing, and singing.
The dancing group's members include celebrities such as actress Ange Muvunyi commonly known as Mimi, Miss Supranational 2021 Anita Kate Umuratwa, Miss Heritage 2020 Nicole Teta Ndenga, Jo Twins, Melissa Keza and Chris and Landry among others.
Inyamibwa AERG Cultural troupe is renowned for their exceptional performances, which they primarily give during traditional weddings. The troupe was started in 1998 by a group of students from AERG at University of Rwanda with the aim of promoting the culture through dance.