We will soon be back with a bang – Cobra

IT is the festive season, that time of the year when most entertainment spots make a kill. But to Cadillac, Kigali’s renowned herb of entertainment, it’s not business as usual – weeks after a fierce fire brought down the premises.

Thursday, December 06, 2012
What remains of Mama Africa Restaurant and Club Mysterious. The New Times/File.

IT is the festive season, that time of the year when most entertainment spots make a kill. But to Cadillac, Kigali’s renowned herb of entertainment, it’s not business as usual – weeks after a fierce fire brought down the premises. The fire gutted down a coffee shop, a restaurant and Club Mysterious.The New Times visited Cadillac, located in Kimihurura, Gasabo District, to find out what progress has been made to ensure the place vibes again. The skeleton still stands yearning to accommodate many people that enjoyed its services for close to two decades. We caught up with Eugene Habimana, best known as Cobra, the proprietor of the one stop stall for entertainment cutting across ages. The question was simple:How soon shall we see Mama Africa Restaurant and Club Mysterious back?"I am still preparing a document to forward to my insurer, Sonarwa, then the process for compensation will commence,” he explains. "I have no problem with them [Sonarwa] and I’m hoping that soon the construction will begin. We have to bring down the burnt building and set up a new one,” he adds. Cobra seems to have contained the frustrations that normally come with such losses. "I am planning to open the children unit and the night club to get my customers who have been calling to know when the facility will be re-opened to the public. I assure my customers that before the festive season, part of the premises will be operational,” Cobra promises. "I thank the government for helping me contain the fire, my friends who have been encouraging me and giving me moral, and sometimes, financial support, to see to it that I rise above that sense of loss,” he added.  He said the more than 80 workers whose job was affected by the fires will soon be back to work. Cadillac has previously hosted some of Africa’s finest musicians, including the late Lucky Dube, Brenda Fassie (RIP), Koffi Olomide and Kidum.