Here’s a recap of the highs and lows that made headlines in the past week.
Rwanda’s Presidential Campaigns Kick-off
This past weekend, the stage was set for the upcoming July presidential and parliamentary elections as campaigns kicked off with fervor. The ruling party RPF-Inkotanyi, led by incumbent President Paul Kagame, launched their bid with massive rallies in Musanze and Rubavu districts. While Democratic Green Party’s Frank Habineza started in Gasabo and Kamonyi, and independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana kicked off his rallies in Kirehe and Ngoma districts.
The events, attended by hundreds of thousands of supporters, featured not only political speeches but also electrifying performances by popular artists like Riderman, Ariel Wayz, Alyn Sano, Eric Senderi, Dr. Claude, and more, who kept the thousands of attendees entertained with election-themed tracks.
Bruce Melodie and Bwiza’s ‘Ogera’ is noticeably becoming RPF-Inkotanyi’s unofficial anthem for the campaign.
However, amidst the enthusiasm, tragedy struck during a rally in Rubavu when one person lost their life and several others needing medical attention as a result of injuries sustained in a crowd control incident at Gisa, in Rubavu District, according to the Ministry of Local Government.
Kendrick Lamar’s The Pop Out – Ken & Friends Concert
On the other side of the globe, Kendrick Lamar’s highly anticipated Juneteenth concert in Los Angeles took center stage. Dubbed ‘The Pop Out – Ken & Friends’, the Inglewood show at the Kia Forum gave the West Coast the spotlight in a live musical event that dominated the headlines and still has people talking.
The show brought together a constellation of West Coast stars including Tyler The Creator, Dr Dre, YG, Ty Dolla $ign and more. More so, K-Dot brought fans, artists, and rival gang sections together to join him in his victory lap after winning the rap war against Drake.
The concert was marked by Kendrick’s powerful performance of his diss tracks “Not Like Us”, “Euphoria” and “6:16 in LA” which drew celebrities like LeBron James, James Harden, Demar Derozan, and Rick Ross, among others, in attendance for the one-night-only event.
Tanasha Donna’s Kigali Debut Disappoints
In a contrasting turn of events, Kenyan model and singer Tanasha Donna faced a setback during her debut performances in Kigali. Despite high expectations, her exclusive parties at B Lounge and The B Hotel struggled with low turnout, leaving attendees underwhelmed. This unexpected outcome came as Donna gears up for the release of her upcoming album this coming July, with hopes pinned on her Rwandan fans for a supportive launch.
