Preparations are in high gear for the staging of the first edition of KigaliUp! Music Festival at the roundabout of Kimihurura, in the heart of Kigali City on Saturday, September 10.

About 30 acts from Rwanda, regional and international including Dream Boys, Holy Jah Doves, Aline Gahongayire, Kidz Voice, King James, Lion Imanzi, Mico Band, Natty Dread, Riderman, Shanel, Kidum, Mighty Popo, Moriah, Rafiki, Shad, Shakura S'Aida and Lokua Kanza, will perform on stage starting from 10pm.

The entrance fee ranges between Rwf1,000 and Rwf3,000, and children below age 10, who would be accompanied by adults will enjoy the festival for free.

Beautiful and live performances will be delivered, as traditional, Hip-hop, Afrobeat, Blues, Rumba, Funk and Reggae artistes perform. Poets, comedians and dancers will also take part in the festivities. In addition to this, there will be a marketplace with African food and crafts, beer garden and family zone.

KigaliUp! is a transformative cultural travel experience, that embraces Kigali as a Rwandan hub featuring modern, international hotels and centrally located in the country.

The target audience for the festival is broad and inclusive: experience-seekers, travellers, music and event lovers from Rwanda, other African countries and the world.

This unique new initiative will spotlight Rwanda’s unique culture. The festival will also celebrate Africa’s ancient musical history. Collaborations and exchanges between artistes will be created as Rwandan, African and international artistes gather for a social and cultural exchange.

Rwanda is an exciting country with much potential that has emerged from the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi to become one of Africa’s success stories, with a stable government and a growing economy.

The festival’s audience will have opportunities to extend their vacation in Rwanda to witness first-hand the ‘Country of the thousand Hills’, with tour packages to discover both city and country life.

KigaliUp! was born from a desire to enhance a developing economy, promote Rwanda as a tourist destination and expose Rwandan artistes to international audiences.

The project is an initiative by Canadian-based Rwandan artiste Jacques Murigande, alias Mighty Popo, who brought together a group of diverse Canadians and Rwandans (festival organisers, independent business people, educators, artistes and radio producers) to form the not-for-profit organisation Planet Folk, following his years’ long dream to start a music festival in Rwanda.

The event is sponsored by Positive Production, Bralirwa, Calgary Folk Music Festival, Edmonton Folk Music Festival, Winnipeg Folk Festival, Saved By Radio Records, Ottawa Blues Festival, EWSA, MIJECPOC and RDB, among others.

Speaking to The New Times, Kanobana R. Judo, the Events Manager of Positive Production/Kigali, the co- organiser and sponsor of the KigaliUp! Music Festival commended the sponsors of the event, and encouraged the public to attend the festival.

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