On 22 October 2026, Mme Cécile Kayirebwa marked her 80th year, eight decades of life, memory and 60 years of music. Now settled in Kigali and enjoying a well-deserved rest surrounded by family and friends, Mama Cécile continues to cherish what's closest to her heart: music, people, and community. Among her favourite traditions is Igitaramo, the quintessential Rwandan evening of togetherness, where stories, songs, poetry, dance and laughter bring people together.
On 25 October, the Hôtel des Mille Collines hosted a special Igitaramo in honour of one of Rwanda’s most cherished musical voices. Among the artists who came to celebrate her life and legacy was Eric 1 Key, a prominent multidisciplinary artist on the Rwandan scene; here he shares his reflections on an evening filled with music and emotion.
Kirena, Numukobwa, Isimbi, Cyusa, Grandma Tate and Mama Cecile
Inganzo ya Kayirebwa: An Evening of Love for a Living Legend By Eric 1Key
For 60 years, Cécile Kayirebwa has carried Rwandan music to stages around the world. She is one of our true icons, and Inganzo ya Kayirebwa celebrates her music. It's a rare kind of tribute: Kayirebwa sits back and watches younger generations bring her songs to life in their own way. It's legacy you can actually see happening.
Cultural custodian & IMITARI founding member Muyango with Ange
4 Generations Of Rwandan Women: Kayirebwa's auntie Taté MUKANKUSI, IMITARI founding member Faina Numukobwa, ISAMAZA founding member Francoise Ruboneka, Alouette, Ange na Pamella
I first received an invitation in 2015, and I had the honour of performing my poetic rendition of Iwacu, a song I had sampled on my debut album, Entre 2. She liked what I brought to it, and I've been a regular at these evenings ever since.
This year was special. Kayirebwa turned 80, and friends, family and artists gathered at Hôtel des Mille Collines to honour her.
The testimonies were the heart of the night: stories of true friendship, companionship, decades of mutual support, and even a few confessions of old crushes. Mzee Tito took his time telling us just how much he had fancied Cécile, cousins or not. The room was in stitches. He ended by giving her a cow, which in Rwanda is the highest expression of love and admiration.
Senator Dr. Tito Rutaremara
The evening was a beautifully curated mix of dinner and music. Between performances, relatives from around the world appeared on video, sending lovely words to their favourite person from miles away.
There was plenty to celebrate beyond the music, too. We heard about the work Ceka I Rwanda, her non-profit organisation, has been doing behind the scenes. Her book, Les Chansons de Cécile Kayirebwa, was launched on the night and is out now on Izuba Éditions.
INYAMIBWA Cultural Troupe
Kesha, Isis & Kaze Diaura
INTORE Dancers
Then came a glimpse of her documentary, still a work in progress. Imagine trying to fit 80 years of a life well lived and 60 years of music into one film! The two-minute sizzle reel offered an intimate moment: Kayirebwa at the table with her whole family, her parents, children and grandchildren, sharing a meal and stories.
One question got the best reactions: "When did you realise your grandma was famous?" Eyes went wide, jaws dropped, and out came little gems that showed what an icon Kayirebwa truly is, even to the people who know her simply as family. Judging by those two minutes, the film will be well worth the wait.
Author & Comedian Diogène Ntarindwa aka Atome
Hon Minister Olivier Nduhungirihe
By the end of the night, it was all smiles, hugs and dancing, guests and hosts together. Big credit to the organisers for an evening that felt warm, personal and perfectly put together.
Mama Cecile with Abakobwa INYAMIBWA Cultural Troupe
Long live Kayirebwa. Here's to many more evenings of Inganzo, surrounded by love.
November 2025 KIGALI – We arrived at the BK Arena to find the show already in full swing, the air electric with the sound of drums and a crowd of 7,000. It was November 22, the Feast of Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of musicians, and the City of Kigali was holding a vast celebration of Rwandan tradition called Dutarame Kigali. We had missed the official opening by Kigali’s Mayor and the early performances from local community groups. The five-hour marathon was a masterclass in cultural vitality, but its immortal soul would arrive later, in two unscripted minutes that none of us will forget.
We caught 2025’s music sensation, Boukuru, mid-set. With stunning visuals behind her, dressed in an all-white elegant ensemble by Maison Munezero, her structural Amasunzu hairstyle completed a look of pure intention. Her voice, a powerful instrument that moved from deep resonance to crystal clarity, carried the clear echoes of her bigggest vocal inspirations, the runs of Mariah Carey, the soulful power of Whitney Houston, all filtered through the foundational grace of Rwandan greats like Cécile Kayirebwa and Kamaliza. She held the stage with a calm authority, fully connecting with every corner of the audience.
Then Teta Dianastepped onto the stage as a living symbol, barefoot, with thick short braids pulled back, a little golden dress shimmering under the lights. She carried an Inkoni (cane) and Agacuma (calabash), a microphone in the other hand, the very definition of demure power incarnate. Her voice, tender yet controlled, felt like a reminder that heritage is not nostalgia; it is a pulse still beating.
The energy went right up with Ruti Joëlwho truly tore a portal in the night. His performance carried the intensity of a young artist fully anchored in tradition yet fluent in contemporary sound. He jumped, ran, danced, and flipped with breathtaking athleticism, all while controlling his breath to deliver ancient vocal lines over drum-driven Gakondo textures. For Gen Z, he stood as the bridge: bold, restless, and deeply rooted.
From there, he fused seamlessly into a warrior display, introducing the 25-strong Ibihame Cy’Imana dancers before exiting in a whirlwind of Intore energy.Amakondera horns, Ingoma drums, shouts, kwivuga, organised chaos on stage, mesmerising. A saxophone unexpectedly floated slick jazz licks over the thunder.
The dance troupesInyamibwa and Inganzo Ngarifollowed, driving the arena into full electricity. This was poetry in motion: disciplined formations, commanding drums, and the thunder of Amakondera horns polyphonic tones cutting through. The arena became a giant, participatory Igitaramo, intergenerational, communal, participatory; one could feel the lineage flowing through the entire space.
Veterans held their ground with masterful ease. Jules Sentore, charisma and emotional precision embodied, moved effortlessly between pop-inflected passages, Afro-modern arrangements, and the deep resonance of classic Gakondo phrasing. Soon joined by two dozen dancers dressed in elegant black, his set unfolded like fluid, unmistakably Rwandan theatre.
Then Massamba Intore took the stage, a veteran presence with a voice full of history and warmth. Dressed in a full-black, emperor-style suit wrapped in a modern version of Imishanana, he commanded the space, weaving through guitar-driven Congolese licks and call-and-response passages with absolute mastery.
And then came the moment no one rehearsed.
Massamba stepped off the stage, walked toward the front row, and began singing, a cappella, Inyange Muhorakeye, one of his "big sister in arts" most beloved songs. Cécile Kayirebwa seated between her younger sister and the legendary Muyangojoined in, Massamba pulled up a chair, sat before her, and together they created a moment of pure Umucyo.
Cameras gathered. Photographers circled. The arena erupted. Seven thousand people witnessed an intimate exchange that felt like a whisper travelling across generations, soft, profound, unforgettable. In a show of more than five hours, it took only two minutes for Cécile Kayirebwa to ignite the moment that became its soul. A quiet gesture, an unrehearsed duet, a spark shared between artists who know each other’s lineage by heart that shouted a simple truth: that true legacy is not built by institutions or official plans. It is carried, it is lived, and it is recognized instinctively by the people.
The moment was made more poignant by the context. As mentioned earlier, 22 November was meant to be marked by an intimate celebration organized by Ceka I Rwanda, the organization overseeing Cécile Kayirebwa’s legacy. Multiple efforts to secure support were met by delayed reaction, unanswered messages, and even a potential partner venue withdrawal. Those working to secure an intimate celebration for Kayirebwa's legacy realized the path to honoring this day was met with frustrating delays and institutional silence.
As the Justin Bieber viral moment articulates well “It didn't clock”. The announcement of Dutarame Kigali on the same date, however, offered a meaningful alternative for honoring the St Cecilia day. Following frenzy behind-the-scenes work simply to ensure she could safely attend the event, the City of Kigali and the production team, citing an unfortunate oversight, stepped in on the final day with VIP tickets and protocol assistance. Yet here, in this vast arena, the culture itself had course-corrected. Dutarame Kigali, perhaps inadvertently, ultimately provided the stage for the most fitting tribute of all, a raw, unrehearsed tribute that no formal ceremony could ever hope to replicate.
A reminder, gentle yet undeniable, that legacy is not claimed.
En cohérence avec l'esthétique artistique et musicale sur laquelle elle a bâti sa réputation, l'auteur-compositeur-interprète légendaire a fait appel à d'autres talents artistiques pour produire le single CORONA (Ijoro Ribara Uwariraye), une riche tapisserie sonore de poésie traditionnelle Rwandaise, harmonies vocales sophistiquées mettant en vedette les jeunes sœurs jumelles Ange et Pamela que la chanteuse légendaire a mentoré depuis plusieurs années, une instrumentation traditionnelle légère mettant en vedette les sonoritées blues les plus anciennes et mystiques du folklore Rwandais, l'inanga joués par Deo Munyakazi.
L'illustration de la couverture est une contribution de l'artiste visuel le plus réputé du Rwanda, Epa Binamungu.
Les perturbations causées par COVID-19 dans notre vie quotidienne ne ralentissent pas et le Rwanda, comme le reste de la région de l'Afrique de l'Est, connaît une résurgence de nouveaux cas.
Alors que le taux de vaccination en Afrique est bien inférieur à celui du reste du monde, les mesures les plus élémentaires et les plus efficaces pour empêcher la propagation du virus sont notre responsabilite collective en adoptant la distanciation sociale, en maintenant un niveau d'hygiène élevé et en portant des masques.
Une peur, une pandémie, une menace de mort ! Alors oui, je chante en chassant Corona et en appelant mes frères, sœurs et enfants à ne rien négliger pour l'éviter. Cécile Kayirebwa
Des études publie par "National Librairy of Medecine" montrent que "l'examen des paroles de chansons peut toujours être utile pour comprendre les attitudes locales envers COVID-19, ainsi que les stratégies de promotion des comportements préventifs. Bien que des efforts multidimensionnels supplémentaires soient nécessaires pour sensibiliser le grand public à la pandémie de COVID-19."
Le single est maintenant disponible sur Amazon Music, Spotify et toutes les principales plateformes numériques. Cette sortie musicale deviendra le point de départ d'une conversation plus etendue sur le rôle positif que les artistes peuvent jouer dans pour promouvoir l'hygiene de vie, santé mondiale et la lutte contre la pandémie.
Consistent with the artistic and musical aesthetic she has built her reputation on, the legendary singer songwriter has called on other artistic talents to produce the single CORONA (Ijoro Ribara Uwariraye), a rich tapestry of traditional Kinyarwanda poetry, sophisticated vocal harmonies featuring the young twin sisters duet Ange and Pamela who the legendary singer has been mentoring for a few years, light traditional instrumentation featuring Rwanda's most ancient and mystical bluesy sounds - the Inanga - played by Deo Munyakazi.
The cover artwork is a contribution from Rwanda's premier visual artist Epa Binamungu.
The disruption caused by COVID-19 in our everyday lives is not slowing down and Rwanda, like the rest of the East African region, is undergoing a resurgence of new cases.
While Africa vaccination rate is way below than the rest of the world, the most basic and effective measures to prevent to spread of the virus is our behavioral responsibility by practicing social distancing, maintaining high level of hygiene and wearing masks.
A fear, a pandemic, a death threat! So yes, I sing while chasing Corona and calling on my brothers, sisters and children to neglect nothing to avoid it. Cecile Kayirebwa
Studies published by the National Library Of Medecine shows that "examining song lyrics can still be useful in understanding local attitudes toward COVID-19, as well as strategies for promoting preventive behaviors. Although additional multidimensional efforts are needed to increase awareness among the general public about the COVID-19 pandemic."
The single is out now on Amazon Music, Spotify and all the main digital platforms and will become the starting point of a wider conversation about the positive role artists owes to play in global health and the fight against the pandemic.
Au Rwanda, pendant quelques jours encore, Rwandan Traditional Cultural icon Cécile Kayirebwa a souhaité partager un moment special et intime avec des amis proches et amateurs de culture pour un Igitaramo, une occasion d'interagir en partageant des chansons, des récits et des témoignages.
In Rwanda, for a few more days, Mama Kayirebwa expressed her wishes to share a special moment with close friends and culture lovers during an intimate Igitaramo, an opportunity to interact by sharing songs, stories and testimonials.
Merci a Ubumwe Grande Hotel qui nous offre généreusement l'utilisation d'un espace privé pour l'occasion. Si vous êtes disponible ce dimanche et avez l’intention de nous honorer de votre présence, veuillez confirmer votre présence dès que possible pour que nous puissions planifier en conséquence.
Thanks to Ubumwe Grande Hotel who generously offered us the use of a private area for the occasion. If you are available this Sunday and intend to honour us with your presence, please confirm your attendance as soon as possible so that we can plan accordingly.
Email RSVP: ceka.i.rwanda@gmail.com
Une contribution de 10 000 RWF couvrira les collations et un cocktail de bienvenue à votre arrivée.
Un bar payant pour la consommation de boissons sera mis en place.
Mobile Money fortement conseillé: +250 784 999 402 Email RSVP: ceka.i.rwanda@gmail.com A contribution of RWF 10k will cover snacks and a welcoming cocktail at your arrival. A cash bar for drinks consumption will be set up. Mobile Money strongly advised: +250 784 999 402
Since its inception in 2012, the show has been staged at different locations towards the end of March. Last year it was held at Hotel des Mille Collines, while in 2015 the event went out of town, at Masaka Farm. In 2014, the 1st ever Inganzo Ya Kayirebwa was held at the AHAVA RIVER in Kicukiro.
For a musician that is considered a custodian of Rwandan folk music and traditional values, Kayirebwa’s event is more than just music and a quick buck to be made from it. It’s about remembrance, healing and hope – a powerful symbol of transition to the commemoration period for the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.
The event format is divided in multi parts: a multi media part with screening of rare and never seen contents, a musical performance by Kayirebwa, a transmission element as younger talents step on stage to interpret one of her songs and one original composition, and an interactive part as the singer shares stories, anecdotes and breakdown songs meaning as well as answer questions from the general public.
SOUND LIKE A VERY INTIMATE EXPERIENCE. WHERE WILL INGANZO YA KAYIREBWA 2017 BE TAKING PLACE?
HOW MUCH IS IT AND WHERE CAN I PURCHASE MY TICKETS?
IT IS ALSO A FUND RAISER, WHO IS AND WHAT DOES CEKA I RWANDA DO?
The not for profit organisation aims to preserve and archive the cultural heritage of Rwanda through music, dance and poetry. An important work to be done as the new generation is increasingly influenced by global culture to the detriment of their own heritage and identity.
During the event at Marriott Hotel, Kayirebwa will be releasing three retrospective albums of songs she has arranged and sung to celebrate legendary Rwandan folk musicians, most of whom have since died. For this project, she partnered with producers from Rwanda.
The triple CD release pays tribute to the work of singer-composers Celestin Rwirangira, Ladislas Twahirwa and also an album called Inwatwa, which is folk music performed by Batwa women still living in Kigali today.
There is a lot of very urgent artistic and academic work to be done for the preservation of Rwandan traditional culture such as the collection of data & knowledge, the transcript and translation of classic folk songs & pastoral poetry, the archiving, the restauration and digitization of old recordings as well as doing new recordings as professionally as possible etc... Also desire and ambition to create cultural spaces to learn, practice and perform regularly is a very urgent aspect of CEKA I RWANDA's work. Read more here
INDEED THIS IS A MAMMOTH YET IMPORTANT WORK. IT SEEMS LIKE A TIMELY REMINDER AS AS RWANDA ENTER INTO THE REMEMBRANCE PERIOD?
Yes, it is an opportunity for remembrance, healing and hope through culture, music and dance – a powerful and symbolic vehicle of transition towards the commemoration period for the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.
Watch UBUTUMWA (The Message) - A powerful and emotional remembrance song composed 15 years ago by Mrs Kayirebwa. The song was held preciously for many years and only performed during the Icynamo period at many events organised by the Rwandan diaspora across Europe and America since. In 2014, she finally decided to recorded it and shoot a video to mark the 20th commemoration of the 1994 Genocide Against The Tutsi of Rwanda.
Ni ishyirahamwe ridakurikirana inyungu (ASBL) ryashinzwe
na Cécile Kayirebwa; akaba umuririmbyi, umuhimbyi, n'umwanditsi w'indirimbo
z'ikinyarwanda, mu kinyarwanda, mu majwi no mu njyana bya kinyarwanda.
Kayirebwa yashinze iri shyirahamwe muri 1996 mu Bubirigi.
Kera abahimbyi n'abaririmbyi n'abasizi n'abahamirizi
bagiraga igihe bahabwaga n'ubutegetsi bw'icyo gihe bakajya mu
"nganzo" kwiherera kugirango bafate umwanya wo gutekereza no guhimba
nta kibahungabanya. Bakagemwurirwa, bagafatwa neza, igihe cyazagera bakanabihemberwa.
Wari umurimo w'UBWENGE ugenewe kibika umuco wacu mu bwenge nokuwukwiza.
CéKa i Rwanda
ibikora ite?
Yishakamo ibyo izi yahawe n'ababyeyi n'abakuru mu bwana. Yegera abahanga
b'ubumenyi ubwa ari bwo bwose. Ishakashaka intore, ababyinyi n'abaririmbyi,
bakigira ibintu hamwe, bakabitunganya mu majwi no mu byuma bifata amjwi
n'amashusho. Bityo ikabika mu ma CD no mu ma video no mu nyandiko.
Akamaro
Iyo mirimo yose ya "CéKa i Rwanda" ikomeza umuco ikigisha
abato n'abakuru, no mu mashuri yakwigisha abana, umuco ntuzacike kandi
ntuzanduzwe n'ibiva mu yandi mahanga, ahubwo ikabikoresha ihitamo ibyiza byaho.
CéKa i Rwanda irakangurira umunyarwanda uwo ari we wese kwiyumvamo icyo
gikorwa agahagurukira gufasha iri shyirahamwe gukora uwo murimo
Muti dute?
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