The concert, held on September 5, 2026, was part of the celebrations surrounding Rwanda's 21st Kwita Izina Gorilla Naming Ceremony, which took place a day earlier in Kinigi, Musanze District.
Rema, one of the biggest names in contemporary Afrobeats, headlined the concert and performed for about an hour and 20 minutes, taking fans through some of his biggest hits, including 'Calm Down', 'Dumebi', 'Charm', 'Azaman', 'Bounce', 'Holiday', 'Soweto', 'Fun' and 'Ozeba'.
From his opening performance, the atmosphere inside BK Arena was electric, with fans singing along to his songs and showing their excitement through banners and messages displayed on their phones.
Rema last performed in Kigali in October 2023, and his return was met with an enthusiastic reception from fans who had waited nearly three years to see him perform in the city again.
Rema brings his biggest hits to Kigali
Rema entered the stage a few minutes before 10 p.m., accompanied by a group of dancers, opening his performance with 'Azaman'.
He went on to perform a string of popular songs, keeping the crowd on its feet throughout the night.
'Calm Down', arguably his most recognisable hit, was among the performances that drew one of the strongest responses from the audience. The song, released in February 2022, has become one of the defining records of Rema's career.
His performance of 'Soweto', a collaboration with Victony, Tempoe and Don Toliver, also sparked a major singalong as fans joined him word for word.
Later, Rema performed 'Fun', a song centred on love, good times and socialising. He encouraged fans to enjoy themselves and share a drink as they celebrated the night together.
The singer also received a special gift from a Rwandan fan midway through his performance. The gift featured Rema's photograph, a gesture that visibly pleased the Nigerian star.
After around an hour and a half on stage, Rema brought the concert to a close with 'Ozeba', encouraging fans to dance along before ending his performance.
Rwandan stars set the stage
Rema was supported by some of Rwanda's leading performers, who helped build the excitement ahead of the headline act.
Kenny Sol was the first major performer of the evening, taking the stage at 7:41 p.m. He opened with 'Haso', his 2021 hit, before performing songs including 'Haje Gushya', 'Ikinyafu' and 'Phenomena' during his 20-minute set.
Kivumbi King followed, opening his performance with 'Hanze', which became popular after its release in September 2024.
He later brought Burundian artist Kirikou Akili onto the stage to perform 'Yampayinka', their recent collaboration.
Kivumbi also welcomed rapper Juno Kizigenza during 'Kirigute', giving fans another surprise collaboration.
Rwandan singer Saràh Phenom, who recently performed alongside Rema at his concert in Paris, also took the stage before the Nigerian superstar.
DJs keep the crowd moving
The entertainment continued between performances, with DJs helping maintain the energy inside BK Arena.
DJ Marnaud took over after Kenny Sol and Kivumbi King, later being joined by Intore Massamba and Ruti Joel.
Before Rema's appearance, DJ Jumbee, who regularly works as Rema's DJ, was also behind the decks, warming up the crowd for the highly anticipated performance.
Patrice Evra among notable guests
The concert attracted a mix of government officials, musicians, young people, social media personalities and other public figures.
Among those in attendance was former France international Patrice Evra, who played for clubs including Manchester United and Juventus.
Evra was also one of the distinguished Namers at the 21st Kwita Izina ceremony, where he named Muganura, a baby gorilla from the Izuba family.
Minister of Sports Nelly Mukazayire, Minister of State in the Ministry of Youth and Arts Development Umutoni Sandrine, and Rwanda Development Board Chief Executive Officer Jean Guy K. Afrika were also among the officials who attended.
A night of music and celebration
By 6 p.m., crowds had already begun gathering at BK Arena, with young Rwandans making up a large portion of the audience.
The concert provided a musical finale to a week of activities surrounding Kwita Izina, Rwanda's annual gorilla naming ceremony that brings together conservationists, public figures, artists, business leaders and visitors from around the world.
With Rema delivering a packed set of his biggest hits and Rwandan artists bringing their own energy to the stage, the concert ended the celebrations on a high note.
Source : https://new.igihe.com/english/how-it-went-down-remas-electrifying-night-at-bk-arena-photos/
