IN PICTURES: Kigalians salute Inkotanyi in liberation concert

How to celebrate Liberation day in style? Trust young people in Kigali to dress militarily- with boots too, and throw around salutes cheerfully as they march when the song ‘Sisi Wenyewe’ is played. The mood at Massamba Intore’s Inkotanyi concert, which is an annual celebration of the liberators of the country through music and dance, only proves that Kigalians are invested in showing up and leaving a mark. On Friday night, it looked like people had their camouflage shirts and trousers hidden in their closets for this special day. Also, try bringing up any liberation song and see who doesn’t sing it from the start to the end! With a generally fair turn-up, we sat in the big tent at the former Camp Kigali waiting for the concert to begin. It was written on the fliers that it would start at 8:00pm, but if one has been in Rwanda long enough, patience is key. 40 minutes later, Nep DJs started playing music predominantly sung by Cecile Kayirebwa. Next was Joel Ruti, who looked like an army sergeant in a full combat uniform when he stepped on the stage. He even sung a song originally from the 2021 cadet graduates, and you could already tell the concert was going to be lit He then went on with his song, Rasana, which some people seemed to enjoy and sung along. And then he sung RDF Military Band’s Majeshi Makali, Ibigwi by’Inkotanyi, and RDF Izihirwe which people sung along on top of their voices, dancing and smiling widely. Ruti’s energy on stage was something else and even watching him alone would have been fun. When he left, we needed more of the army songs that we used to sing along from the national television, several years ago. When Jules Sentore was announced, he really took his time. We had taken our seats. He started off with one of his songs, Indashyikirwa, which only a few people seemed to know, but the chorus “Ngizo ziraje” was easy to sing along. He only vibrated the concert when he sung Dimba Hasi. We would have broken the floor if he kept going, since its dance, Ikinimba, requires jumping mostly. Mariya Yohana entertains Kigalians who turn up for the INKOTANYI CYANE concert on July 7. Craish Bahizi The show couldn’t get better if the queen of Liberation music, Mariya Yohana didn’t grace it. When she was announced, not a single soul remained seated. She looked glorious in her Umushanana. A person who was seated next to me said whoever came up with the Umushanana design, had first seen Yohana and made it precisely for her. What would be a liberation concert without her famous Intsinzi anyway? I had goosebumps when I saw her smile, we sang it from the first line to the last. But she also sung an acapella, “Undinde Mwana Wanjye” (protect me my child) that parents would sing to their children while in exile. The 2022 Inkotanyi Cyane concert was in honour of the 28th anniversary of the liberation of Rwanda. Photo by Craish Bahizi Finally, Massamba Intore, who has been singing liberation songs even before liberation itself graced the stage. He looked like a Major in the army, and his audience has gotten quite used to his camouflage outfits every year. It makes sense that majority of his audience looks up to him when it comes to this kind of fashion on this kind of day. His traditional introduction a.k.a ‘Icyivugo’ may have taken two minutes, or even more. Is there a better song to start a session with than Inkotanyi Cyane? I doubt! Massamba has been blessing us with songs from refugee camps where Rwandan refugees were scattered in different countries. Some are his originals, others are covers from different people; like Indahemuka, RPF’s music and dance group that was very much active during the liberation struggle. They raised funds and boosted morale for soldiers who hoped to succeed in fighting for a country they were deprived. Trust Massamba to take you back in history and bring you back again in the present in a few minutes. We sung Dushengurukanye isheja, Hatuwezi Kuludi Nyuma, Demokarasi, and Izagishe zitashye, before we jumped to Iyo Mana dusenga and Sisi wenyewe. Clearly, young people have outdone themselves when it comes to learning liberation music, traditional dance, and loving their army. Other artistes that graced the concert are the twins, Ange na Pamela, Cyusa cy’Ingenzi, and Daniel Ngarukiye. Kigalians enjoying the Inkotanyi Cyane Concert on Friday The 2022 Inkotanyi Cyane concert was in honour of the 28th anniversary of the liberation of Rwanda, where the RPA-Inkotanyi stopped the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi and defeated the genocidal government to make way for Rwandan refugees who were previously denied rights- including residing in their country. Happening every July 4, it is the most celebrated political holiday in Rwanda. The concert attracted different people ,captured here dancing the most loved songs of the liberation like Dushengurukanye isheja, Hatuwezi Kuludi Nyuma, Demokarasi, and Izagishe zitashye The former Camp Kigali was the venue of the concert that attracted hundreds of people to celebrate the 28th Anniversary of the Liberation of Rwanda. Dushengurukanye isheja, Hatuwezi Kuludi Nyuma, Demokarasi, and Izagishe zitashye were the songs that impressed the audience. Massamba Intore’s Inkotanyi Cyane concert

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IN PICTURES: Kigalians salute Inkotanyi in liberation concert