International stars grace local arts festival

Genre : Event evaluations
Principal country concerned : Column : Music
Release/publication date : 2015
Published on : 19/02/2015

Hundreds of music lovers turned up for the start of the week long Isaano Arts festival at Petit Stade in Remera on Sunday. The festival was graced by international renowned musicians including Habib Koite (Mali), Tiken Jah Fakoly (Ivory Coast) Thias Diarra, (Swiss) and Cissoko Noumoucounda from Senegal.

In a two-hour performance, Koite, who performed with his band Bamada, mesmerized the audience with his unique voice.
Koite performed a number of songs, such as, Deme, Diarabi Niani, Soo and Bolo Mala that comprise his 2014 album called, Soo. The album is said to have earned a lot of success within Africa and beyond.
 
Swiss diva with roots in Mali, Diarra, performed on Tuesday, and treated festival goers to her sweet vocals in French, English and Bambara from Mali.
She sang her hit tracks, Africa dieye, Who I am, Afro soul, Thais ne na, and Mali, among others, with the assistance of Senegalese Kora maestro, Noumoucounda.
Diarra's performance was followed by the concert' s most sought after Tiken Jah Fakoly.

Wearing a stylish African outfit, bubu, Tiken Jah Fakoly exhibited pride in his African roots, alongside a spirit of Pan-Africanism.

Fakoly, who performed with his band, belted out his popular tracks, Intro,Descendant,L'africain,Dakoro,Ouvrez les frontiers,Plus rien ne m'etonne,Kafouye,Tata,Initie,Le prix du Paradis ,African revolution,Les martyrs, Dernier Appel,Meddley,FranceAfrique,Un africain A paris,Y'en A marre, Quand l'Afrique va se reveiller,Africa and Promesse Bla Bla among and received a standing ovation from the charged crowd.
 
The festival features activities that include a fine-art exhibition, art workshops and a literary gathering, among others. Aimed at promoting Rwanda's artistic industry, the festival will wind up at the end of the week.

Partners

  • Arterial network
  • Media, Sports and Entertainment Group (MSE)
  • Gens de la Caraïbe
  • Groupe 30 Afrique
  • Alliance Française VANUATU
  • PACIFIC ARTS ALLIANCE
  • FURTHER ARTS
  • Zimbabwe : Culture Fund Of Zimbabwe Trust
  • RDC : Groupe TACCEMS
  • Rwanda : Positive Production
  • Togo : Kadam Kadam
  • Niger : ONG Culture Art Humanité
  • Collectif 2004 Images
  • Africultures Burkina-Faso
  • Bénincultures / Editions Plurielles
  • Africiné
  • Afrilivres

With the support of