Rwandan Artists Shine Alongside Rema at Kwita Izina Concert in Kigali

Rwanda's music scene took centre stage at BK Arena on Saturday, September 5, as some of the country's leading contemporary artists performed alongside Nigerian Afrobeats star Rema during the 2026 Kwita Izina Concert.

The night featured performances from Kenny Sol, Kivumbi King, Juno Kizigenza and Saràh Phenom, alongside DJs Marnaud and Senshi, before Rema closed the event with the headline performance.

The concert served as the musical finale of this year's Kwita Izina celebrations.

Kenny Sol Takes the Stage

Rwandan singer Kenny Sol was among the local artists who performed before the headline act.

His set included songs such as "Haje Gushya" and "Phenomena," bringing his catalogue to the BK Arena audience as anticipation continued to build for Rema's appearance.

Kenny Sol has become one of the recognisable voices of Rwanda's new generation of musicians, and his inclusion on the lineup placed him on one of the country's biggest entertainment stages.

Kivumbi King Brings Out Juno Kizigenza

Kivumbi King also represented Rwanda during the concert.

During his performance, he invited fellow Rwandan artist Juno Kizigenza onto the stage.

The pair performed their collaboration "Kirigute", creating another distinctly Rwandan moment during a concert headlined by an international star.

Their appearance highlighted the growing visibility of collaborations between Rwanda's contemporary artists on major live stages.

Saràh Phenom Performs Before Rema

UK-based Rwandan singer Saràh Phenom became the final local artist to perform before Rema took the stage.

Her Kigali appearance came after she had recently shared a stage with Rema in Paris.

Returning to perform for a home audience gave the singer another significant appearance as she continues building her presence both inside and outside Rwanda.

Rema Headlines the Night

Rema eventually took the stage for a performance lasting approximately one hour and 20 minutes.

His set included several songs from across his career, including:

• "Beamer"
• "Are You There"
• "Soundgasm"
• "Calm Down"
• "Fun"
• "Soweto"
• "Dumebi"
• "Ozeba"

The Nigerian artist closed his performance with "Ozeba," a track from his 2024 album HEIS.

His global hit "Calm Down" was also one of the night's major moments, with fans joining in as the song played across BK Arena.

DJs Keep BK Arena Moving

Rwandan DJs were also part of the programme.

DJ Senshi opened the event with a mix of Afrobeats and pop music as fans entered the arena, while DJ Marnaud also performed during the evening.

Media personalities Lucky Nzeyimana and Rocky Try hosted the concert.

Music Closes Kwita Izina 2026

The concert took place one day after the 21st Kwita Izina Gorilla Naming Ceremony, held in Kinigi, Musanze District.

This year's edition saw 22 baby mountain gorillas named under the theme:

"Conservation is Life: Sustaining the Future."

The BK Arena concert brought the celebrations from Musanze to Kigali, combining Rwanda's conservation and tourism programme with a major night of live entertainment.

A Major Platform for Rwandan Music

Although Rema was the headline attraction, the night also gave several Rwandan musicians significant exposure in front of a large BK Arena audience.

Kenny Sol, Kivumbi King, Juno Kizigenza and Saràh Phenom represented different parts of Rwanda's contemporary music generation, while Marnaud and Senshi represented the country's growing DJ scene.

Major international concerts in Kigali increasingly provide local performers with opportunities to appear alongside some of Africa's most recognised artists.

For Rwanda's music industry, that means more than entertainment.

It creates opportunities for visibility, collaboration and exposure to wider audiences as Kigali continues developing its position as a destination for major African live music events.

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Editor's Note: Performance details in this article were cross-checked against post-event reporting from The New Times and IGIHE. No unverified attendance figure or financial claim has been included.