What: KigaliUp Music Festival
When: July 7th & 8th
Where: Amahoro Stadium (the event has been moved from Kimuhurura)
Cost: Rwf 2,000/day or Rwf 3,000/weekend or buy a festival supporter ticket for Rwf 10,000/day or Rwf 15,000/weekend (these passes include a drink and raffle ticket)
The 2nd Annual KigaliUp Music Festival – a dynamic celebration of diversity, creativity, and evolution of the Rwandan culture and economy – will take place from 1pm to 11pm on both Saturday, July 7th and Sunday, July 8th, 2012 in the park at Amahoro Stadium in Kigali.
Many popular and emerging artists from the region will perform alongside international artists. Senegal’s Ismael Lo will wow audiences with his lush percussion-laden m’balax songs. Award-winning bandleader and drummer Kidum and quirky 6-piece Afro Pop Ma3 represent Kenya. Burundi’s Steven Sogo brings his re-imagined traditional songs. American blues revivalist Corey Harris, who collaborated with the late Ali Farka Touré, makes his first trip to Rwanda with his band. The audience will also revel in the fresh hip-hop sounds and poetry of South Africa’s Tumi and the Volume and Zimbabwean master mbira player Chiwoniso.
KigaliUp celebrates Africa’s deep, diverse musical traditions, including traditional music, blues, hip-hop, funk and reggae. It features collaboration between Rwandan, African and international artists. Workshops with international artists will be held in the community. Like a miniature village for the weekend, KigaliUp will come alive with 2 stages, a marketplace, beer garden and a family zone.
The festival is the vision of Juno Award-winning Rwandan-Canadian artist Mighty Popo, who’s working with a team of local and international arts industry veterans, including Rwanda’s Positive Productions.
The first annual KigaliUp Festival on September 10, 2011 was a magical, ground-breaking event featuring over 30 Rwandan, East African, French and Canadian artists performing on 2 stages to a diverse audience of 2,500 people. Over 35 Rwandan artisan vendors and collectives were part of the festival, organized by 70 Rwandan and international volunteers.
This year, tickets will be available at the gate. Standard tickets are Rwf 2,000 for one day or Rwf 3,000 for the weekend; Festival supporter tickets (which include a free drink and a ticket for a raffle drawing to win prizes) are Rwf 10,000 for one day or Rwf 15,000 for the weekend. Anyone interested in volunteering – either for Gate & Ticket Sales; Beer Garden; Artist Liaison; or CD Sales – should contact Katie at katieuher@hotmail.com and specify the preferred task and shift(s).
For more information, check out the KigaliUp website, their Facebook page, or their Twitter feed.
KigaliUp is a music and arts festival aimed at supporting Rwandan and African artists. It is organized for the community by the community, and is completely run by volunteers and on a very slim budget. One of our main sources of revenue is ticket sales. So if you can afford it, please buy a Festival Supporter Pass to help sustain the festival in future years!
Tickets will be sold at the gate. Standard passes are 2,000 RWF for one day or 3,000 RWF for both days…. or you can qualify for exciting prizes by purchasing a “Festival Supporter” pass at 10,000 for one day or 15,000 for both days. When buying the Festival Supporter pass, you will get a coupon for one free drink per day and your name will be entered into a raffle for a chance to win:
o One-night stay for two people at Paradis Malahide Hotel in Gisenyi –> 1 winner
o One-night stay for 2 people at Common-Wealth View Guesthouse, Kibagabaga, including dinner and breakfast –> 1 winner
o A free decoder and one year subscription to Canal+ –> 1 winner
o $100 in cash (from Tigo) –> 2 winners
o A one hour massage from Kianty Spa at the Country Inn Hotel, Gaculiro –> 4 winners
o Meals at restaurants in Kigali:
· Zaaffran: 5 coupons for varied amounts –> 5 winners
· Flamingo: a 10,000 RWF voucher –> 3 winners
· Hellenique Restaurant: a meal for four people –> 1 winner
· Shooters Restaurant & Nightclub: one dinner meal –> 1 winner
· Vuba Vuba: a meal for two people –> 5 winners
· Chez Baso Pattiserie: a 15,000 RWF voucher –> 2 winners
The drawing will be done on stage Sunday evening, yet winners don’t have to be present when the drawing is conducted. They will be contacted directly by the festival organizers, to receive the vouchers for their prizes.
The “Festival Supporter” pass is a way to provide much-needed support this dynamic event, which is fully organized by volunteers and funded by donors/sponsors. Please help us cover the costs of this year’s event and make it sustainable for future years!
The word is that the festival venue has been changed to Amahoro Stadium instead of the Kimihurura roundabout. Let’s hope for a cloudy day now that we won’t be able to take cover from the blazing dry season sun.
That is correct. KigaliUp is moving to Amahoro Stadium grounds (instead of Kimihurura Primature Park) due to a change in the authorized venue location. Please help us spread the word!!
By the way, don’t worry about the sun! The set-up will not be affected. It will still be organized in the same way, with tents and a festival atmosphere. We are excited for the event and look forward to seeing all of you there!
Hey guys, my name is Shane Muhimanyi and I’m a contemporary ballet dancer based in London. I am visiting Rwanda from the 4th till 14th November 2012 for a dance festival at Ishyo arts centre. During my visit there, I was wondering if people would be interested in contemporary dance technique workshops such as Cunningham, improvisation, Graham or gaga techniques, don’t worry if you don’t know them I could introduce you to them. The beauty of contemporary dance is that you don’t have to be a great dancer to enjoy it, and I’m sure if you guys are interested we’ll have a blast. If it sounds like you could give a go please let know asap so I can arrange something. Gracias