THE festive season seems to be taking shape in Kigali – artiste upon artiste showcasing what they do best on stage, with a new spirit of entertainment.
THE festive season seems to be taking shape in Kigali – artiste upon artiste showcasing what they do best on stage, with a new spirit of entertainment. Over the weekend, Jay Polly, one of Rwanda’s finest rappers and perceived by his fans as the "Father of Hip-hop” launched his third album dubbed, Umwami Uganje, amid the confusion of the event’s postponement. According to the organisers, the launch that was initially slated for Saturday evening was postponed to Sunday. But despite all those challenges, the magnetism of the event seemed to have attracted a sizeable crowd at the Petit Stade in Remera. Jay Polly’s album launch concert was attended by, among others, the Minister of Sports and Culture Protais Mitali. The event received a boost from MTN, the leading telecommunication firm in the country, and Bralirwa. Preparations for the event began minutes after 2p.m, with organisers giving no room for hitches of any sort. The doors were open to the public. The crowd streamed into the venue to watch their very own deliver yet another bouncing baby in form of an album – a 2012 gift to Jay Polly’s fans. The crowd did not only have a touch of the music but also had a lot for their eyes to sample in terms of entertainment and fashion. The night was filled with excitement and a joyful atmosphere as the emcees, KFM’s Tino and Anita of Radio 10, entertained the crowd with their rib-breaking jokes and dancing prowess. And as every minute matured into hours, the crowd gathered energy. Then came the moment, the place was blazing hot and the crowd went wild when the main artiste, Jay Polly, born Joshua Tuyishime, came on stage.With his latest songs, ‘You and Me’, and ‘Icyizere’, among the nine pieces on his latest album, the fate was sealed. He killed it and placed it right there for the crowd to witness. The organisers were pleased with the turn-up.Speaking to The New Times, the officer in-charge of promotion and sponsorship at MTN, Alain Numa said, "We are pleased by tonight’s turn-up and to be associated with a successful event such as this launch; being our brand ambassador, Jay Polly has not disappointed and we promise we will continue to nurture and support new crop of artistes in the country.” Maurice Uwera, brother to Jay Polly, expressed satisfaction. "We never expected such a turn-up given the initial postponement. We are looking forward to selling at least 2,000 copies of the new album and to continue giving our fans value in the music from their boy.”The event ended at about midnight on a high note, and, to many, it was worth forgoing the sleep.