Charity concert raises funds for Somalia

It was such an entertaining and inspiring Saturday evening, as several artistes including The Brothers and Indagamirwa Cultural Troupe, converged at the Sports View Hotel to raise funds in a charity concert.

Monday, February 27, 2012

It was such an entertaining and inspiring Saturday evening, as several artistes including The Brothers and Indagamirwa Cultural Troupe, converged at the Sports View Hotel to raise funds in a charity concert. The Rwandan Youth Campaign organised the concert dubbed ‘Compassion for Somalia’ to raise money and awareness to support Somalis living in the IDP Camps.  The concert that started at 8:15 pm featured Derek as the first act captivating the audience with his first singles Fashya Somalia (Help Somalia) and Africa among others. Next was The Brothers, whose thrilling performances did not fail to impress the crowd with their songs such as Sawa sawa, Save Africa and Mbobera, to which the audience found touching as they were inline with the concert’s theme. The Indagamirwa Cultural Troupe wowed the crowd with their catchy lyrics enabling the mesmerised crowed to attempt a little sing along. They also pulled out fantastic cultural performances in different ways that aroused even some of the revellers to rise up in admiration and bewilderment.The fundraising session was a smooth process as people participated highly; some participants paid cash, whist others pledged their contribution. Somalia’s Consul in Rwanda and owner of Fodey Security Company, Omar Soyan, was also at the concert. He donated Rfw2 million, whist the Fodey Security staff, too contributed Rwf1.5 million. The organisers revealed that the total amount of money from the Somalia Concert was about three million-five hundred eighty-one thousand seven hundred Rwandan Francs (Rwf 3, 581700), and Ksh100.The fundraising session was followed by performances by the Bright Future Generation Choir, which entertained the guests in one of their rendition of Tabaala Somalia, an inspirational song."This concert was staged with an aim of raising money and awareness for the people of Somalia; we are to proceed with finalizing with the pledges then after send the money to Somalia,” Jean Népo Rwema Sibomana, Co-coordinator for Rwanda Youth Campaign for Somalia (RYCS), said. Sibomana applauded Alphonse Nkuranga, Executive Secretary in the National Youth Council, for working hand in hand in effort towards supporting the campaign and Somalia’s Consul for the huge contribution."We are pleased with the fact that the Somalia’s Consul has promised to lead the Rwandan Youth delegation to Somalia, where they will handover the aid to the people in the IDP camps,” Sibomana noted. He added: "The function has generally been a success; we hope to continue with more of this spirit in such campaigns even to other African countries in need.” Bright Future Generation Choir concluded the ceremony with their songs Tabala Somalia, (Help out Somalia).