How Kigali Jazz Junction has changed Rwandan music scene

Three years have gone by since Kigali Jazz Junction came onto the Rwandan music scene and it is fair to say that the monthly music show has had an impact on the industry. Since its inception, it has become a prominent fixture, not only for local music lovers but also members of the corporate and diplomatic circles. Today, the event has proved that it is continuing to grow in terms of attendance, having started in the banquet hall of Kigali Serena Hotel, when the audience grew, it moved out into the big marque outside the hotel and the most recent edition was held at the even much bigger tent at Kigali Exhibition and Conference Village. Consistency, quality of headlining artistes and good organisation has been the secret of the organisers. The past three years have been and are still a great experience, according to Remmy Lubega, the brain behind the monthly jazz concept, which has been brought a big number of popular artistes from the region and beyond the continent. South African musician RingoMadlingozi and Ugandan Bebe Cool are the latest to grace Kigali Jazz Junction as it marked 3 years of existence last Friday. “We’re simply humbled and happy for what we achieved in the past three years. We started with less than 20 people and with free entrances and nowsee how far we’ve come with great audiences as well as a big opportunity for local artistes to share the same stage with renowned international artistes,”Lubega says. He says the platform has contributed to selling the city of Kigali to the world, especially when visitors are looking for something to enjoy locally as well as international stars who are part of it. “People are coming to visit our country. We can be ambassadors of our country using our platform, then the regional and international artistes may be ambassadors of our country too when they come around,” Kigali Jazz Junction has also created a local fan base, like Noella Ahirwe, who said that she never misses the monthly event “unless she is sick” and that it is a great platform to network. It hasn’t been an easy journey. Lubega says the music industry is still struggling to find sponsors and investors with many not believing that music is a profitable industry to invest. “We have had a good relationship with our sponsors but it is still hard for them to understand the impact of their visibility, they are instead looking for direct profit when we approach them to invest in our platform,” explains Lubega, adding that this must change. He said that if sponsors put trust and money in event organisers and musicians, the industry can grow tremendously to achieve its potential, pointing out that ideas must be supported Lubega, whose company RG Consult is behind the Jazz Junction, says that it has been a long journey, commending Neptunez band, the official band of the Kigali Jazz Junction and his entire team for sacrifice. Going forward, Lubega says they will be bringing in more regional and international artistes to perform alongside local artistes who can learn from their international peers. After his performance on Friday, Bebe Coolhailed the organizers for the initiative which has brought together music lovers in Kigali. “I would like to congratulate Jazz Junction organizers. Three years ago when I was in Kigali, the place could not have such experienced organizers for these kinds of events. They are trying so much to make sure there is an event for corporate people who can really show that high fly spirit” “Now, the corporate peopleneed to understand the music industry is so importantand worth investing in as long as they have that feeling that local artistes must be supported because the music industry is an industry that employs a lot of youth,” he adds. Judo Kanobana, a local event organizer,praises the format of the jazz Junction event and was mostly inspired by the organisers’ patience, having taken their time to see the monthly event grow. Mani Martin, who was the first local artiste to perform at Kigali Jazz Junction also says the platform has evolved over the last three years. “For me, Jazz Junction is more of a festival than a music concert because it is all about what kind of music people come to enjoy than how popular the headliners appear to be,” “We need more music platforms where more talents can be detected since this is for big and popular artistes. Rwanda has plenty of talents and people are increasingly getting interested in visiting the country. So we need to create more platforms at which they can come and enjoy the best of our music,” he said The platform is attracting more sponsors on board after being convinced with the way they are organized. Clare Muneza, the Media and Communication Manager at Airtel-Tigo Rwanda said the telecom company can only think of keeping the partnership with the Jazz Junction organisers, through which much more can be explored in terms of marketing to make the brand even bigger. “As partners, we are proud to be part of Kigali Jazz Junction’s journey. It has been a very good platform for us to boost and promote our brand visibility. Our partnership has been perfect because they are innovative and consistent and respect their annual calendar. According to Lubega, in reference to what has been achieved in the past three years, Kigali can be home to a Jazz Festivals in the next five years, like Cape Town and New York Jazz festivals, if the growth continues.

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How Kigali Jazz Junction has changed Rwandan music scene