Twaje Fest was a truly remarkable tribute to the late Rwandan musician Yvan Buravan. It brought his lifetime fans together on October 26 at BK Arena to reminisce and celebrate his life. It also served as a big occasion for the singer’s fellow artists, friends and family to present to the audience what he dreamed of achieving in his career, promising to carry on from where he stopped and connect the dots through his YB Foundation. The event also honoured Buravan’s vision of blending traditional Rwandan culture with modern artistry, a concept he adopted dearly when he launched his album ‘Twaje’ after which the festival was named. It is under the foundation that, before the concert, a cancer screening was held to raise awareness of the disease that claimed Buravan’s life on August 17, 2022. Buravan had a dream to one day to stage a one-man show inside the state-of-the-art BK Arena. But pancreatic cancer ended his dream. He spent days battling the disease in India but never survived. He was 27. Meanwhile, a host of artistes joined the festival lineup, eager to make his dream come true in a way or another. The likes of Jules Sentore, Alyn Sano, Ruti Joel, Impakanizi, Ish Kevin, Andy Bumuntu, Juno Kizigenza, Ariel Wayz, Nel Ngabo, Mani Martin, Mike Kayihura, DJ Marnaud, France Mpundu, poet Malaika Uwamahoro were among artistes who performed at the concert. Fans were welcomed by Buravan's music which was echoing in the background around the arena. On the playlist were songs like ‘Gusaakaara’ and ‘Big Time,’ among others. The event quickly filled with an international and local audience who had come to honour the beloved musician’s memory. The show began around 8:20pm with a heartwarming documentary detailing Buravan's life, journey, and legacy. Traditional troupe ‘Ibihame’ set the stage, evoking Rwanda's rich cultural heritage. Soon after, the crowd erupted into cheers for Ruti Joel, whose heartfelt performance left the audience onto their feet dancing excitedly. Jules Sentore and Alyn Sano followed, lighting up the stage with stirring renditions of Buravan’s favourite songs. Later on, a touching moment when ‘Ituro’ played inside BK Arena. Buravan had written the song for his parents, thanking them for guiding him and shaping him into the man he became. another powerful but emotional moment transpired when Mani Martin appeared on stage with a painted tableau of Buravan, a piece of art he used to honour the late musician. Andy Bumuntu and France Mundu then joined forces, performing “On Fire”, a fan favourite song that had the audience cheering. Ish Kevin continued the momentum with an electrifying rendition of VIP, a song he recorded with Buravan, honouring their collaboration. As the evening progressed, Dj Marnaud and Ruti performed a track from Buravan’s final album, marking a nostalgic moment for fans. More performances by Ariel Wayz and Nel Ngabo kept the vibrant energy alive, creating a heartfelt evening of music and remembrance. Nel Ngabo set the crowd in moving mood with his popular song Zoli. As the event drew to a close, a powerful tribute took centre stage. Mike Kayihura’s performance featured a touching black-and-white video of a hospital scene showing a person passing away as a hero, with the theme “Intore Ntipfa Ica Umugara”, symbolising that Buravan’s legacy would live on despite his passing. Artists then presented flowers to Buravan’s parents, an emotional gesture of respect for the singer and his family. Juno Kizigenza capped off the night of celebration by staging what was the last performance of the night. He sang his hit song Yaraje, leaving fans immersed in the musician's enduring legacy. Intore Masamba later took to the stage to thank each and everyone who attended, urging them to keep listening to Buravan’s music to keep his legacy alive and keep praying for him. As the show concluded, all performers gathered on stage with Buravan’s family for a group photo standing beside his portrait—a final tribute to a beloved artist who united Rwandans through music.
