Gospel music star, Israel Mbonyi is in Israel for a one-week tour in which he is expected to perform in a mega concert alongside Israeli singer, Avraham Tal. Dubbed ‘Twende Jerusalem’, translated as ‘we go to Jerusalem’, the tour initiated by the Israel Embassy in Rwanda and organised by Go Tell World Exposures, a touristic company that supports pilgrimages, aims to promote youth talents in creative and other critical socio-cultural aspects including performing arts. The eight-day tour also aims to spur the spiritual connection of pilgrims by linking them with the place believed to be the origin of Christianity. It attracted more than 120 music lovers and other individuals from Rwanda who are all in Tel Aviv to celebrate Easter and enjoy the music tour. Before jetting off on 16 April, Mbonyi, alongside 150 other pilgrims from Rwanda and East African region, who anticipate to tour different parts of the Middle Eastern country, which is historically regarded by Jews, Christians and Muslims as the biblical Holy Land, promised to deliver the best for the fans who travelled with him to Israel, and ones in different cities of the country waiting to experience his live performance for the first time. A bigger number of pilgrims could have travelled with the singer ahead of the tour, but there was a hindrance after organisers struggled with sponsorship that they were anticipating from potential partners. Limited resources also reportedly forced Mbonyi to take just two backup singers instead of the whole band had earlier planned. The artiste said that he has been producing many tracks and he can’t wait to show the world what he has in store. “This is not just a normal tour. It’s an opportunity that will give me space to connect with my fans in various ways, such as acoustic lives on the road, big concerts in different cities, and most especially, experiencing Easter celebrations in Israel,” he said. Mbonyi, who is mostly known for having sold out concerts in Rwanda, revealed that he is ready to work with different Israeli singers. Miss Rwanda 2020 Naomie Nishimwe, cultural musician Christian Mugunga, Miss Photogenic Nadia Umutesi, Prof Silas Lwakabamba, the Rector of Coventry University, Africa, and Flash radio and TV proprietor Louis Kamanzi, among others, are expected to attend. One of the delegates who spoke to The New Times, said that the ‘Icyambu’ hit-maker will entertain the people of Israel and the pilgrims who accompanied him before embarking on the tour during which they anticipate to discover the beauty of Israel. According to organisers, the first concert will take place on April 18 at Roman Amphitheatre of Kfar Shuni located in Binyamina-Giv’at Ada, and the second one will take place on April 20 at Ariel Sharon Park, Tel Aviv. During the tour, pilgrims will explore different places from different cities during the tour including Dead Sea, Jericho, Mount Carmel, Jerusalem, Nazareth, Canaan, Tiberias, Galilee, Golgotha and Mount Tabor. Other parts of the country scheduled to be visited include Bethlehem and Dolorosa (both in Jerusalem) before concluding the tour in Jaffa, Tel Aviv.
