The Rwandan rap scene turned out in full force on Saturday night, August 24, for the Icyumba cy’Amategeko concert, headlined by industry favorites Riderman and Bulldogg. The Room of Rules show at KCEV came alive as revelers began arriving at 6 p.m., with the show kicking off around 8:10 p.m. WATCH: Renowned rappers Bulldogg and Riderman hit the stage at their Icyumba Cy’Amategeko concert at KCEV this Saturday, celebrating rap across generations. : @HeritierBahizi /TNT pic.twitter.com/bENbqPsNN0 — The New Times (Rwanda) (@NewTimesRwanda) August 24, 2024 MC Tino took the stage to introduce Karigombe at 8:15pm. Despite a slow start and Karigombe's boastful claims about his music school background, his impressive freestyle soon energized the crowd, setting the stage for the night ahead. Next up was Bruce The 1st, representing the new generation. His performance of hit tracks like Kumihanda, Bwe Bwe, and Demo proved that contemporary rap resonates with audiences. The young rapper was offered the stage which Kenny K-Shot couldn’t afford to miss as he joined him to perform their joint track Umutima. Each performer delivered about 3-5 songs and a freestyle, with visible camaraderie among the artists, many of whom shared collaborations. Kenny K-Shot later brought out Xeventeen and Loverboy to perform their latest single, Airplane Mode. Their new pop-rap blend energized the crowd, and Kivumbi King delivered a standout moment with his viral hit Wait, turning the evening into a singalong as the entire audience joined in. Due to the seating arrangement at this intergenerational concert, younger fans were positioned in the back (often due to the high ticket prices), while the adults, who secured front-row seats, were initially more reserved but eventually joined in. At around 9:05 p.m., Kinyatrap enthusiasts were treated to a dynamic performance by genre champions B-Threy and Bushali, who delivered hits like “Niki,” “Ijyeno,” “Kinyatrap,” and “Nituebue.” DJ Selecta Faba kept the energy high with his expert mixing. And 15 minutes later, Ish Kevin took over the stage, performing “Babahungu” and “Iki,” backed by Soldier Kid. Their set heightened the anticipation for what was to come next. The band kicked into high gear at around 9:57 p.m., marking the end of the DJ sets for a while. The ‘Icyumba cy’Amategeko’ concert was divided into two main segments. The first featured performances of EP’s ‘Hip Hop’, ‘Mu Banigga’, and ‘Amagegeko 10’ which sparked buzzing cheers from revelers who were all smiles in their faces to see Hip Hop taking over again. After a brief intermission, Riderman went backstage for a short break while Bulldogg stayed on stage for a solo performance during which his performed some his popular rap songs like “Mpe Enkoni,” “Nk’Umusaza,” and “Cinema.” A standout moment arrived when when Bulldogg reunited with his old Tuff Gang crew members P-Fla, Green P and Fireman with whom they performed fan favorites like “Umusaza P-Fla,” “Itangishaka,” “Murinjye,” “Kandagira Abanzi,” and “Kwicuma.” The ‘gang’ took a special moment to pay tribute to their late member, Jay Polly, with their acclaimed track “Amaganya.” During the performance, Bulldogg lifted a portrait of the late rapper and displayed it before thousands, including his wife Sharif Mbabazi, who were present at the show. It was then time for Riderman who returned to the stage Shauku Band at 11pm, performing his beloved solo tracks like “Umwana w’Umuhanda,” “Holo,” and “Mambata.” At around 11:41 p.m., Bulldogg rejoined Riderman to perform the second part of their EP, featuring tracks like “Nkubona Fo,” “Miseke Igoramye,” and “Bakunda Abapfu.” The concert wrapped up at midnight, leaving fans thoroughly satisfied. Kelvin Ishimwe, a concert attendee, felt so emotional that his favorite rappers delivered a Hip Hop show beyond his expectations. “We honestly didn’t expect it to be like this. Hip-hop now has a dedicated audience, and this event, strictly headlined by hip-hop, took us back to the classics while also showcasing the latest trends. It was a full-circle experience. Icyumba Cy’Amategeko is a milestone for our rap scene, and we’re looking forward to more events like this.” Reflecting on the event, it had indeed been a while since Rwandans had such a rap-focused gathering. Previous rap-themed events often struggled with turnout, but this one was a hit—the venue was packed, drinks were flowing, and food was enjoyed. Here’s to more events like this in the future. For now, let’s revisit the EP and savor the moment.
