Rwandan music sensation The Ben, is set to stage a big concert dubbed ‘The New Year Groove’ during which he will launch his brand new album ‘Plenty Love’ at BK Arena on January 1, 2025. The concert promises to mark a new milestone in Rwanda’s entertainment industry, according to the team organizing the concert. The artiste, born Benjamin Mugisha, held a media briefing during which he told the press that the concert will feature ‘almost every artiste’ he has collaborated with throughout his career, giving fans a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see these performances live. “This concert is about making Rwandans proud of our music on top of our clean city, and our good leadership that everyone knows about worldwide. We are taking the music scene to another level,” The Ben said. According to The Ben, the concert will showcase a fusion of traditional and modern performances, with more than 200 performers, including cultural troupes and dancers. Revelers can also expect live renditions of tracks from the music star’s long-awaited album,‘Plenty Love,’ which has been in the production for over five years. “Notable artistes such as Tom Close, Riderman, Element, Kevin Kade, and Kivumbi King among others will join me on stage. This concert is special, it feels like a journey that honours our pioneers, like Masamba and Rafiki, while celebrating the next generation of talent,” he said. The Ben’s new album features 12 songs produced by Rwanda’s leading producers including Element and UK-based Rwandan producer Madebeats. Explain the choice of the album title, the singer said, “I really focused on Rwandan producers this time. The album is called ‘Plenty Love’ because of a song on it, and the inspiration comes from ‘True Love.’ I wanted to show gratitude, especially as my wife and I are expecting a baby.” The Ben started music in 2007 although he had already started singing during Sunday Church service as a child born in a Christian family. He now knows well how far he has gone from having his ‘dream’ debut concert if his career to becoming Rwanda’s superstar. Looking back to his first major concert in 2009, the ‘True Love’ hit maker highlighted the progress that Rwanda’s music industry has made over the years. “Back then, the concert showed our government that Rwanda has a lot of talent. This time, the upcoming concert in 2025 is different it’s much bigger, and the security is very tight compared to the last one,” he said. The singer expressed deep gratitude for his fans’ continued support. To give back, he and his sponsors are offering special gifts as part of the festive season celebrations. Fans who previously engaged with his social media challenges, such as commenting for top likes, will also be rewarded. Getting Pamela involved in ‘True Love’ video The Ben revealed that ‘True Love’ was a heartfelt collaboration between himself and his wife Pamela Uwicyeza, celebrating their love journey together since getting married in December 2023. “My mother was not really happy about it, but my wife and I don’t see it as a problem. This is our story, and we’re proud to share it in the way we did,” he explained. ‘The New Year Groove’ concert promises a night to remember, with a carefully curated lineup and innovative elements designed to set it apart from past concerts. “This time, we programmed the concert differently. There will be surprise performances, graphics matching the sounds, and a fusion of tradition with modern performance styles,” The Ben shared. Tickets for the concerts are available both online via www.ticqet.rw and at select physical locations including, MTN Centers, TECNO Shops across Kigali and Uncle’s Restaurant Kicukiro.
