Rwandan music stars The Ben and Bruce Melodie are set to light up Kampala this Valentine’s weekend, ahead of their performances in the Ugandan capital. The Ben will perform at Mezo Noir on February 14 in an event dubbed Mezo Valentines, expected to draw revelers from across the region for a night of Afro-R&B and romantic ballads. A day later, Bruce Melodie—who arrived in Kampala on Friday morning alongside Bwiza—will headline Serendipity Sidechic Sunday at Guvnor Club. Bruce Melodie’s appearance comes amid his ongoing regional media tour promoting his latest single Pom Pom, featuring Tanzanian superstar Diamond Platnumz and Nigerian rising star Brown Joel. The track has been gaining strong airplay and streaming numbers across the region. His Guvnor performance will be supported by popular Ugandan DJs, including DJ Roger and DJ Etania.

American Grammy Award winner Doja Cat will headline the third edition of Move Afrika, set to take place in Kigali and Pretoria in March. Move Afrika is a growing pan-African music tour led by Global Citizen. It is organised annually in partnership with pgLang, the creative company co-founded by Kendrick Lamar who and John Legend headlined the previous two editions in 2023 and 2025 respectively. Doja Cat will kick off her Move Afrika tour at BK Arena in Kigali on March 17 before heading to Pretoria, South Africa, for a second show at SunBet Arena. The Kigali concert is organised in partnership with the Rwanda Development Board (RDB). Speaking ahead of the shows, Doja Cat said she is proud to bring both energy and purpose to the continent.

Rwanda’s creative scene took centre stage as artistes and stakeholders in the creative industry convened at Kigali Conference and Exhibition Village (KCEV) on Friday for the Art Rwanda-Ubuhanzi Xperience festival which marked the graduation of the programme’s third cohort. The event was hosted by Imbuto Foundation, in partnership with the Ministry of Youth and Arts, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the European Union. It brought together creatives from all Art Rwanda-Ubuhanzi cohorts for performances and exhibitions celebrating achievements made through the incubation initiative. Graced by First Lady Jeannette Kagame, the graduation saw 46 young artistes complete a one-year incubation programme under the Art Rwanda-Ubuhanzi project, themed “Nurture Your Talent – Agura Impano Yawe.”

Valentine’s Day proved the perfect moment for a marriage proposal as musician Marina said “Yes” to fellow artiste Yvan Muziki when he proposed to her during his homecoming concert The surprise on-stage proposal became the highlight of the February 13 show at Kigali Universe, where Yvan officially launched his debut album Inganzo Ntahangarwa. In the middle of his performance, Yvan paused to address long-standing rumours about his relationship with Marina, whom he has been dating since 2023. What many had speculated about was confirmed when he openly declared his love for her. He thanked Marina for accepting and supporting him throughout their journey together, saying he was grateful to have found a partner who shares both his life and his passion for music.

The Gen-Z Comedy Show, a popular bi-weekly event in Kigali, celebrated its third anniversary on March 27 at the Kigali Exhibition and Conference Village. The milestone event featured a surprise performance by Nigerian comedian Jose Angel Napi Ondo, who caught the audience off guard. Speaking to The New Times, comedian and event founder Merci Ndaruhutse, Fally Merci, reflected on the show's growth. “I no longer feel like I’m just hosting people—I’m hosting major events,” he said. “Bringing top comedians like Pablo, Alex Muhangi, MC Mariachi, and others to Rwanda shows how far we’ve come. Comedy Store Uganda was a big inspiration for launching Gen-Z Comedy.” Fally Merci also highlighted the significance of hosting Comedy Store Uganda in Kigali, calling it a milestone for Rwanda’s comedy industry. “Success isn’t just about money—having them here is already a big step forward,” he said.

Your social calendar just got the ultimate upgrade—10 must-visit spots and events handpicked just for you. Whether you are into live music, business panels, sports, gospel, or social gatherings, Kigali’s entertainment scene has something to keep you in the loop. Boukuru Acoustic Live Immerse yourself in a night of soulful melodies with songstress Boukuru, hosted by Marnaud Music Therapy at Atelier Du Vin. Known for her enchanting vocals, Boukuru was among this year’s Prix Découvertes RFI 2025. Curated by DJ Marnaud and friends, this event blends acoustic rhythms with carefully selected beats for an intimate yet electrifying experience. Happening this Friday, March 28, with free entry for ladies before 9 PM. General admission: Rwf8,000.

For over 15 years, Longin Irunga, widely known as "Tukowote," has been a fundamental actor of Rwanda's cinema, leaving a long-lasting mark on the country's acting scene. His journey from the early 2000s when the industry was still finding its footing to becoming a lead actor in major productions today is a proof of his resilience and passion. Born on June 5, 1972, Irunga's love for acting began during his youth days when he was living in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). He would frequently visit theaters to watch films and later reenact scenes for his family and friends, who affectionately nicknamed him after prominent actors of the time. Throughout his acclaimed career, Irunga has appeared in an impressive 161 films, including notable titles such as "Kaliza wa Kalisa," "Ejo Sikera," "The Bishop Family," "Bamenya," "Isi Dutuye," "Intambara y' Ubuzima," and "Card," to mention just a few.

The journey of Moshions’ Kwanda Season came to an end on March 18, when creative director Moses Turahirwa introduced the last cohort of six designers to the fashion world after graduating to the program’s third and final season. A total of 17 designers have benefited from the programme since it started three years ago and Dan Ngalamurure, Jacques Nkinzingabo are among four Rwandans out of the six training beneficiaries from Kwanda Season while Santrina Nziza, Amir Yazdi traveled all the way from Uganda and Iran respectively for the courses. Presenting her project during an exhibition on the graduation day, Nziza broke into tears joy, reflecting on how far she has gone trying on new things from her first day at Moshions.

he Rwandan music star Mugisha Benjamin, popularly known as The Ben, and his wife Uwicyeza Pamella are celebrating the birth of their first child. The couple welcomed a baby girl named Mugisha Paris on the night of March 18, 2025, in Brussels, Belgium. The news comes just over a year after their glamorous wedding in December 2023. The Ben had previously announced during Bwiza’s album launch concert in Belgium that they were expecting a daughter. Pamella was even present on stage with him, sharing the joy with their fans. The couple had considered different countries for their child's birth, including Canada and France, but ultimately, their daughter was born in Belgium. Pamella gave birth at Edith Cavell Hospital in Brussels, where she had gone for a routine check-up. Upon arrival, doctors determined she was about to give birth and decided to keep her at the hospital until she safely delivered. The news of their daughter's arrival was made public on March 19, 2025.

Rwandan artiste and vocalist Kenny Mirasano has announced plans of embarking on a nationwide music tour that will take him to several cities and rural areas across Rwanda in support of his debut album ‘Yewe Muntu’ which will premiere on March 21. Mirasano’s first album consists of 10 tracks, each carrying powerful message reflecting peace, unity, hard work, and love, which he looks to convey to the global audience. "The idea for this tour reflects on how my music could reach people, especially those in rural areas. Living in Kigali, I noticed that most performances and digital platforms are centered in the capital, and people outside Kigali often miss out on these opportunities," Mirasano told The New Times.

Rwandan Afro-house music lovers are in for a treat as Kigali’s nightlife is about to experience a significant transformation with the launch of Atmosfera, a pioneering Afro-house monthly event curated by renowned Rwandan disc jockey, DJ Lamper. Scheduled to debut on March 29, at the vibrant Depot37 within Mundi Center, the event promises to boost Kigali’s entertainment scene and introduce the Rwandan audience to the dynamic world of Afro House music and Amapiano. “I’ve always believed in the power of music to bring people together, and Atmosfera is all about celebrating the global sounds that are shaping modern dance floors,” DJ Lamper told The New Times, adding. “Afro House, along with Amapiano, has taken over the world, and now it’s time for Kigali to feel that energy firsthand.”