The fourth edition of the Oldies Music festival, held at Juru Park, Rebero, proved to be a classic spectacle exclusively for adults and by adults. The event kicked off a bit later than earlier planned but quickly made up for lost time with an impressive lineup of classic hits that spanned decades from early in the 70s to late 2000s. DJ King Reg real name Regis Isheja, was offered chance to show what he does best during his routine weekly oldies evening at Tania’s. He never took it for granted, opening the evening of old school music extravaganza with a selection of 80s classics that had the growing crowd buzzing and making a series of request from his deck. As he promised, his playlist was getting even more enjoyable track after track as he engaged the audience, featuring iconic tracks from legendary musicians like Jennifer Lopez and Lauryn Hill. Each song seemed to unlock cherished memories for the attendees, creating a noticeable atmosphere of nostalgia. The festival attracted a diverse audience, with music lovers of all ages in attendance. While the older generation was in their element, singing along to nearly every track, even members of Gen Z turned up to enjoy the timeless tunes they recognized. You could see no one standing nor sitting. Dancing was what they came for and it is what they were doing for every track that the DJ was playing. DJ RY, arguably regarded as the king of oldies music, took stage next, and he wasted no time catching the audience with a reggae mix that reinforced the night's theme: old is indeed gold. His set was particularly energetic, with the crowd visibly animated throughout his performance. RY's versatility shone through as he seamlessly blended various genres and languages, keeping the audience on their toes. For the finale, DJ King Reg returned to the stage, bonding the celebration of music across eras. His set included a who's who of music legends, from Michael Jackson to Sean Paul, Notorious B.I.G., and Jay-Z. The DJ even mixed Rwandan music of the past decade or so, adding a local flavor to the international mix. Cecile Kayirebwa and Kigali Boys’ songs relived their memories and indeed brought them back in the days when they were in their prime. Fashion is one of the most important highlights that make Oldies Music Festival more relevant and, looking around the venue, everyone was dressed to impress with their best classing attires. And, in the end, two best dressed festival goers, a man and a woman, were awarded brand new laptops. Among them was sports journalist Fuade Uwihanganye. No DJ Toxxyk? No problem! The show was so enjoyable that no one still cared about DJ Toxxyk's unfortunate absence on Oldies Music Festival DJ lineup as earlier announced by organisers. Of course some came because they knew he would come and his absence left them disappointed. “How on earth didn’t he show up? Either organisers or himself owe us explanation,” one festival goer claimed. Basile Uwimana, the brains behind Oldies Music Festival, declined to explain what may have stopped the DJ from coming after he failed to pick their phone calls whenever they tried to contact him. “He [DJ Toxxyk] never picked our calls all day. He was aware of the whole schedule of the show, he knew when it would start and he was paid one we week before,” Uwimana told The New Times. “We apologize for his absence but any inconveniences that may have been caused are solely his responsibility,” he added. This year’s festival edition did not only live up to the expectations but also exceeded with celebrating iconic musicians, local or foreign, whose music contributed to bringing people back to the entertainment world after years experiencing grief from the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
