Concert goers from all over Kigali last Saturday flocked the New Papyrus for an international performance.

Dubbed, Thrill The World Kigali, the event was the first of its kind in Rwanda. It is part of an international annual dance festival, in which participants go out with professional costumes and makeup to perform Michael Jackson’s mass-hit Thriller.

After a few weeks of training, a group of 50 dancers from Inkondo Z’incamihigo, (small but strong!), a local dance group, emerged on stage dressed like ‘zombies’ and belted out well-choreographed performances.

The event started at around 10:30pm, with the dancers presenting renditions of Michael Jackson’s, The Way You Make Me Feel and P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing). 

At 11pm, the group clad in grungy ragged clothes and heavy makeup, took to the stage to perform Thriller, a tribute to the King of Pop who died on June 25, 2009.

The event was a brainchild of Amanda Emsland from Canada who was overwhelmed with joy by the commitment of the children who participated in the event. 

"These children are blowing my mind with their spirit and smile. They have nothing but the way they came out and gave their whole, they need to be seen and supported,” said Emsland. 

Every October 26, since 2006, Funky Zombies across the globe gather to synchronize their watches and dance to the greatest selling record of all time – Michael Jackson’s Thriller.

Each event raises money for a local or not-for-profit charity of their choice.  All official Thrill The World events are included in the numbers for setting and breaking world records.

Inkondo Z’incamihigo were the beneficiaries of this year’s event.

"We raised 630 dollars online and fifty thousand francs from the dance trainings plus two kids from the group have got sponsorship from Islamic school. When I go back to Canada I want to start up a charity to support this dance group,” Emsland explains

Group leader Gilbert Rutaremara told this paper that he was honored to be among the first groups in Africa to host this event and was to ensure that he spreads the dance across the East African region.

Inkondo Z’incamihigo is comprised of young children and youth aged between 6-22, all orphans and street children.

Rutaremara’s goal is to see that each member in his group is in school and has all the basic needs just like the other children.