Introducing a Rwandan carnival

This Friday at Royale Villas Bar and Restaurant in Kigali’s upscale suburb of Nyarutarama, Rwanda witnessed its first Carnival Night. This is the latest addition to the country’s night life. According to the organisers this was the first of many more to come. Carnival Night will happen every last Friday of the month, explain organisers of the event, the Rough Cats. There is little doubt that many people find Kigali’s nightlife a bit boring. Coming from abroad as many do, they find Kigali has little offer compared to the cities they left behind. MC Alex, a member of the entertainment group of Radio D.J.s known as The Rough Cats, says that the nightlife in Kigali has until now been boring. In partnership with Royale Villas, they plan to change all that. Hopefully Kigali nightlife will never be the same again.Every last Friday of the month, the carnival will adopt a different theme, Alex explains. Alex adds: “the carnival night is supposed to allow people let off stress and have fun.” The idea of people dressing in fancy dress is supposed to generate fun, explains the D.J. Revelers will be entertained by local, regional and even international musicians. However, D.J. Kadir, another member of The Rough Cats, says that although they will be inviting international and regional musicians, the emphasis will be on local artists. “We realise that we need to promote our own culture,” explains Kadir. He adds that to emphasise the cultural aspect of the carnival nights, ‘Intore’ and ‘Amaraba’ dancers will be regular features. He says that Rwanda has got a rich culture, which ought to be tapped into for entertainment and shown off to revelers who may be visiting the country. Carnival Night at least initially will target the corporate class and the expat community, The Rough Cats explain. Kadir believes it will take time for ordinary Kigalians to grasp the concept but that they are always welcome and are sure to come to love the night when they understand it better. There is also the matter of the entrance fee Frw5,000. Many carnival night lovers say that such an event can influence people’s perceptions of what is entertaining about a country or a specific place. Jack Mugula, a business man in Kigali, says that the Brazilian carnival on the streets of Rio de Janeiro has developed into a major tourist attraction for Brazil. He adds that the unique Samba dance which is loved by many who are not Brazilians is a major attraction and leads many holiday makers to Brazil. Though he is not Rwandan, Mugula believes that the Rwandan traditional dancers have got a lot to offer given their lively performances. “Rwanda traditional dancers are very unique and are a major attraction. If they are going to be part of the carnival nights, then it will surely be very entertaining,” says Mugula. Jimmy, a regular reveler at many nightspots in town, says that the idea of a carnival night in Kigali will be a welcome addition to the rather slow entertainment that is the hallmark of most places. He adds, “The changing theme every month will definitely make a difference in as far as the entertainment value of the carnival nights is concerned.” However, he goes on to say that worries that the carnival nights are more fun and entertaining when they are held in an open space like the streets rather than in an enclosed place, which this one will be. Contact: frank2kagabo@yahoo.com