Rwandan musicians Bruce Melodie, Bwiza, Dr Claude, Ariel Wayz, Alyn Sano and Riderman led the stage with powerful performances that left residents in Musanze District entertained as Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi) and its flag bearer Paul Kagame began presidential and parliamentary campaigns at Busogo ground on Saturday, June 22. The first stop of the campaign, which is set to reach 19 districts of Rwanda, attracted tens of thousands of RPF allied party members, all who were not only happy to see their candidate, but also to witness performances by some of their favorite musicians. Before the sun rose, Busogo ground had already changed colors to RPF-Inkotanyi’s blue, white and red, with music coming from all corners of the site and, of course, people dancing as they waited for the arrival of incumbent Kagame, the presidential candidate of the ruling party. ALSO READ: Musanze welcomes Kagame as RPF-led coalition launches campaign Deejay Brianne was the first DJ to hit the stage with a set full of bouncing songs that praises the deeds of RPF-Inkotanyi, before renowned local musicians Bruce Melodie and Bwiza took the stage to perform their recently released campaign song ‘Ogera’. Riderman, Alyn Sano, Ariel Wayz, Eric Senderi and Dr Claude are among other artistes also joined the stage to perform for some 35,000 residents of Musanze, Burera, Gicumbi, Nyabihu, and Rulindo districts who gathered at University of Rwanda’s campus in Busogo to receive and hear from President Paul Kagame, the presidential candidate of RPF-Inkotanyi and allied parties. Ariel Wayz, a first-time voter who is also one of the artists that performed on the opening day of the campaign, said she is overwhelmed to be part of the RPF campaign and excited to be voting for the first time. “It’s going to be my first time casting a vote and I am really excited that I also got a chance to perform at such an election campaign stage,” the singer told The New Times. This marks the beginning of a three-week campaign trail as the RPF-led coalition of eight parties moves across 19 venues in the country to canvas for votes in the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections. ALSO READ: Top 10 trending songs for July elections The National Electoral Commission (NEC) has set July 14-15 as voting dates for all Rwandans to pick the next Head of State and members of the Chamber of Deputies, the country's lower house of parliament. After Musanze, the RPF-led coalition rally heads to Rubavu district on Sunday, June 23.
