Friday night’s edition of the monthly Kigali Jazz Junction was yet another success. There is definitely every reason to conclude that these series of music shows are proving that the local showbusiness can do better. This month, Slai, a French Zouk sensation, was the guest star and he never disappointed. The singer put up a spirited show as he had earlier promised. French Jazz maestro Slaï performed in front of thousands of music lovers. The show, at the Kigali Conference and Exhibition Village (KCEV), was one of the better-attended events the venue has hosted at least since this year begun. Slai, real name Patrice Sylvestre, had by 11pm hit the stage after impressive performance by resident band, Neptunez. The singer attracted cheers and applause when he opened his show expressing his love for Rwanda. Former Neptunez, the Kigali Jazz Junction resident band solist entertain the audience . What was clear was that a big section of the audience clearly knew Slai’s music with most going feeling nostalgic, going back to the days when most of his music was commonly played on local television and radio channels a decade or so. Another aspect of the show is that even before it could start you could get a sense that most people who had attended seemed to be from the French community or background, affirming the assertion that Slai is a force to reckon with especially within the French speaking community. Fans applaud for Patrice Sylvestre during his performance in Kigali. In the first part of the singer’s performance in which he performed about five songs tempting many whether in the ordinary, VIP and even VVIP sections.to abandon the comfort of their seats to dance. He performed songs from Je t’emmene au loin and La dernière danse (ne rentre pas chez toi ce soir) to Autour de toi, Ce soirand Caresse, just to name a few. Participants look so surprised to watch Zouk sensation Slaï, born Patrice Sylvestre during his performance. In the middle of his performance, the musician invited the resident band to help him sample Meddy’s popular song ‘Slowly’, endearing himself to more people and proving how much he knew about some of Rwanda’s talent. The show also paid tribute to Oliver Mtukudzi, the legendary Zimbabwean singer who passed away shortly after his Jazz Junction performance in October last year. Between the sets, Yverry, the only featured local artiste, had his successive turn on stage, performing some of his known sensational tracks including ‘Uragiye’, ‘Mbona Dukundana’, ‘Nkuko njya Mbirota’, and ‘Cyo ngwino’, among others. Slai wrapped up the successful night of zouk with his performance of Flamme.
