It was fun and merry making on Friday at the inaugural East African Night. Ugandan RnB star Allan Ampaire aka Toniks and Jay Polly rocked revellers at the Remera-based The Posh.
The theme night which started as the Ugandan Night every last Friday of the month has now grown bigger to become the East African night as the organisers plan to expand it to include other East African countries.
The Posh is one of the new popular hangouts that have popped up in Kigali and the East African night promises to be one of the key monthly entertainment events.
The night kicked off with MC Tino and the DJ Jasper firing up the audience with animated performances. The venue was packed to the brim with people from all walks of life.
At around 9pm, upcoming Ugandan singer Ray Signature commonly known as ‘Kasenyanku’ hit the stage belting out his popular hits ‘Sikuta’ and ‘Yagenze’ among others. The upcoming singer did his best to win over revellers.
If anything, Ray Signature prepared those who attended for what was to follow. DJ Jasper mixed a few jams to hype the patrons before the Tuff Gangs man Jay Polly hit the stage.
The ‘Ikizere’ rapper performed several of his popular hits including ‘Hisha Munda’ before crowning it with ‘Deux foi deux’ to the delight of the excited audience.
It was then time for the main man Toniks to hit the stage. The hunky ‘Tugende Tukyeekole’ singer belted out almost all his tunes as he played out the guitar. Toniks is a great performer and the audience loved him.
From ‘Nigyenda yoona’ which fired up everyone to sing along to ‘Swag Meter’ and ‘Bera nange’, Toniks proved that he is a force to reckon in the regional music industry. This could be proved by the fact that people sung along to every song, word by word.
According to Frank Asiimwe, the proprietor of The Posh, the East African night will be happening every last Friday of the Month, save for next month when it is going to take place on September 6.
“We want this night to become bigger and representative of all East African countries. Next month we are looking at the East African Ladies night to feature only East African ladies in the music industry,” Asiimwe told The New Times.
It is expected that either Cindy Sanyu or Lillian, all of the Blu 3 fame, will team up with Knowless Butera and several other upcoming female singers for the night.
However, Sheebah, formerly of obsessions who had been expected to perform alongside Toniks and Jay Polly did not show up, for health reasons. She is also expected to perform at the ladies night instead.
The night was crowned by wonderful mixes from one of Kigali’s finest DJ Kadir of Ruff Cuts DJs.
Toniks and crew also performed at Club Next at Muhima Saturday and recorded a few songs with local artistes including Urban Boys before traveling back.
By Linda M. Kagire, The New Times