Nigerian Afrobeats star Rema is set to return to Rwanda for the first time in nearly five years, as he headlines the Kwita Izina Live Concert at BK Arena on September 5, 2026.
The concert will form part of the wider Kwita Izina celebrations and is being held in partnership with Visit Rwanda, bringing one of Africa’s leading global music stars to Kigali for what is expected to be one of the country’s major entertainment events of the year.
Rema last performed in Rwanda in November 2021, when he took the stage in Kigali during an earlier visit to the country. Footage from the performance remains available through the artist’s official channels.
His return comes at a time when Rwanda continues to use major cultural and entertainment events to complement its tourism and conservation activities.
The 21st Kwita Izina Gorilla Naming Ceremony is scheduled for September 4 in Kinigi, Musanze, bringing together conservationists, government officials, tourism stakeholders, international visitors and other guests to celebrate Rwanda’s mountain gorilla conservation efforts.
Rema’s concert the following day will add a major entertainment component to the celebrations, connecting music, tourism, culture and conservation.
The Grammy-winning artist is internationally known for hits including “Calm Down”, which helped establish him as one of the leading faces of the new generation of African music.
His return is expected to attract fans from Rwanda and across the region, while also giving international visitors attending Kwita Izina an opportunity to experience Kigali’s growing live entertainment scene.
With the gorilla naming ceremony taking place in Kinigi on September 4 followed by Rema’s performance at BK Arena on September 5, the 2026 Kwita Izina programme is shaping up as a major combination of conservation, tourism and entertainment.
