Music and theater lovers, the night you’ve been waiting for is here! This March 29th, BK Arena will come alive with a spectacular musical theater performance like no other.
Originally staged in South Africa, ‘Tonight is the Night’ is set to take Kigali on an unforgettable journey of love, betrayal, and redemption. With a beautiful mix of live music, storytelling, and pure elegance, this is a show you won’t want to miss.
Meet the Cast
A Blend of Talent and Emotion The performers are a mix of local and international talent, each bringing their own magic to the stage:
Tasmia Baker, a South African songstress now based in Rwanda, plays the mistress. She describes her character as “the naughty girl, the one who breaks hearts.” With her natural voice and stage presence, she’s sure to be a standout performer.
Higiro Muhoza Terrence, a Rwandan artist known for his global pop influences, will deliver a performance that will have the audience dreaming beyond the night.
Sabrina Mwerere, a talented karaoke singer from Bujumbura, plays the wife, adding deep emotion to the story.
But what’s a musical theatre without an incredible band? The talented musicians bringing this story to life include: Mico Marcel – a Rwandan keyboardist and musical director, Mike – A guitarist, Karim – A jazz drummer, Mutemwa – a Saxophonist, and Claude – a Bassist.
The play follows characters chasing their dreams, dealing with heartbreak, and finding hope in surprising ways. And With different cultures, styles, and voices coming together, it’s already set to be an unforgettable night. Together, they bring this story to life.
A New Opportunity for Rwandan Artists
This event is not just about entertainment; it’s an open door for Rwandan artists and a rare chance for sponsors to connect with the creative industry.
For one of the organizers, Sharif Baker, this is just the beginning. Speaking to SENS Magazine, he shared his vision:
“We want this musical theater to be a catalyst—to inspire young stars and creative minds to engage in theater.”
Kigali currently doesn’t have dedicated theaters, but Baker hopes this show will change that.
“We’re using BK Arena not just for its thousands of seats, but to introduce the idea of a true theater experience. Hopefully, in time, we’ll create a real theater in Kigali where young creatives can fully explore their talents.”
Will Kigali Embrace Musical Theater?
The reaction from the city remains uncertain. The songs in Tonight is the Night are meant for a mature audience, but something unexpected has already happened—the musicians themselves have fallen in love with the music.
“Even though they had never heard these songs before, I’ve seen the artists in the band connect with them deeply. That alone gives me hope that this will spark something in many musicians and inspire them to see musical theater as another powerful way to express themselves,” Baker shares.
He believes this performance will change people’s perception of culture:
“Culture isn’t just about going to nightclubs and bars. Culture is theater too.”
More than just a show beyond entertainment, ‘Tonight is the Night’ carries a deeper message. Baker explains that theater has always been a way to tell real-life stories:
“Back in the day, Shakespeare used theater to explain life to the community. That’s exactly what we’re doing here—telling real stories through music and performance.”
At its core, this play is about love, marriage, and the temptations that can shake them. A man and a woman fall in love and get married, but as time passes, distractions come, and infidelity enters the picture.
“We want to show that cheating is not right—this is not how we were designed to be,” Baker explains.
The carefully chosen songs will guide the audience through the emotions of the story. Even the title, Tonight is the Night, comes from Betty Wright’s song about experiencing love for the first time.
Why Kigali?
So, why bring this show to Rwanda? Baker reveals that a fellow entertainment industry professional encouraged him to introduce musical theater to Kigali. After meeting the right people, including Lopez, the idea was received with open arms.
“We wanted to create a new genre of entertainment and an opportunity for Rwandan artists.”
But again bringing this show to life hasn’t been easy. The biggest challenge? Convincing people to believe in theater. Many in Kigali don’t see theater as a worthy investment, making it difficult to get support.
Another challenge was helping local musicians adapt to a theatrical setting.
“Most of them are used to singing in nightclubs or karaoke, so stepping into musical theater was nerve-wracking for them. But over the weeks, I’ve seen their confidence grow. This is their first time, but once the show is well received, they’ll be ready to take their careers to the next level—not just in theater, but in music as a whole.”
Now, as Kigali prepares for a night filled with storytelling, music, and culture, one thing is certain—this is more than just a show. It’s the beginning of something new, a fresh chapter for Rwanda’s creative industry.
March 29th will be a night to remember—but will it be the first of many? Only time will tell.
