Kigali After Dark: A Weekend of Sound, Sight, and Celebration

The weekend is upon us and Kigali responds with a wide range of activities. This carefully selected guide highlights the best that the city ...

The weekend is upon us and Kigali responds with a wide range of activities. This carefully selected guide highlights the best that the city has to offer, from concerts and film screenings to cultural events. Your only task is to pick your path. ALSO READ: Chryso Ndasingwa and Sharon Gatete prepare for a worship concert in Brussels on Friday, November 21. Taste of Africa After-party | Norrsken Kigali, The Pergola The weekend kicks off with a celebration of identity at the Taste of Africa After-party. The message is straightforward. Embrace who you are. The energy will be driven by DJs Aimes, June, and Kai, featuring a playlist that spans Afrobeats, Amapiano, Afro fusion, and the familiar anthems that connect the continent. The Pergola at Norrsken often transforms into a warm, communal space, and this night is expected to be no different. Tickets are selling quickly and the party starts at 6 PM. Expect a long, lively night filled with rhythm and connection. Lettres En Or | L’Espace, Nyamirambo If you are drawn to more subdued forms of expression, Nyamirambo offers a thoughtful alternative. L’Espace hosts Lettres En Or, an evening of readings and performances featuring new poetic works by Claudia Shimwa and Didous Kaduha. It's a celebration of language and emotion, shaped by sound, stillness, beauty, light, and the shadows that give those things meaning. The writers will read, the room will listen, and the night will unfold into a discussion with the artists. The event begins at 7 PM on a pay-as-you-can basis, inviting anyone to engage with the art without hesitation. Saturday, November 22 Rwanda Diplomatic Charity Bazaar | Green Hills Academy | 9 AM to 6 PM Saturday starts with a global tour in a single day. The Rwanda Diplomatic Charity Bazaar brings together over twenty nations in one space, creating an international marketplace of food, art, performances, and cultural showcases. The bazaar is designed for family exploration, discovery, and community support. Visitors can sample global dishes, shop unique crafts, enjoy live entertainment, and take part in a charity raffle. It's a warm and easy way to spend a Saturday morning and afternoon while supporting local artisans and social causes. Bring friends, bring kids, bring curiosity. There is always something unexpected to find here. Ride The Beat | FitnessPoint Remera For those who prefer an active start to the day, FitnessPoint hosts a spinning event built around one principle. No music, no spinning. The session runs from 9 AM to midday and welcomes beginners, intermediate riders, and the more seasoned crowd. View this post on Instagram Tickets are 5,000 francs for all categories. Expect loud music, a lot of energy, and a workout that feels more like a party on wheels. New members and regulars are invited, and the room usually fills with a collective push that carries everyone through the morning. Kigali Arts Festival, 11th Edition | Saturday, November 22 and Sunday, November 23 | ONOMO Hotel Running throughout the weekend, the Kigali Arts Festival brings together artists, artisans, and creators from across Rwanda. The two-day event offers banana paper craft, weaving, earring making, imigongo painting, screen printing, postcard design, and face painting. It is a hands-on, open space for anyone looking to explore or buy local art. The festival was created to uplift the Rwandan art industry and support vulnerable groups, including women, youth, and people with disabilities. Nine successful editions have built a growing market for local creators, and the eleventh promises an even wider platform. Entry is 2,000 francs for adults and free for children under 12. It is also one of the best stops for early Christmas gift hunting. Kigali Dutaramé | BK Arena Saturday evening belongs to the grand celebration of Rwandan culture at Kigali Dutaramé. The stage will bring together beloved voices including Teta Diana, Ruti Joel, Massamba Intore, Jules Sentore, and Boukuru, supported by troupes such as Inganzo Ngari, Inyamibwa, Ishyaka ry'Intore, and others. Expect traditional rhythms, layered vocals, and dance that carries history on its shoulders. The arena opens at 4 PM, and seating ranges from the 5,000 franc Umurage ticket to the 20,000 franc Inganji section. It is a full cultural immersion and one of the most anticipated shows of the season. Papa Cyangwe: Five Years Experience | Kigali Universe Hip hop takes its turn later in the night with Papa Cyangwe’s Now or Never Album Launch, marking his five-year journey in the industry. It is a celebration of growth and a showcase of the new work that captures his rise and resilience. He will be joined by Riderman, Fireman, P Fla, Yampano, Racine, B-Threy, Zeotrap, and Hollix. Entry ranges from 10,000 francs for general access to 20,000 francs for VIP with drinks included. A table for six goes for 200,000 francs and comes with a bottle. The event begins at 6 PM and promises a long, charged night of live performances. Sunday, November 23 Planète B Premiere | Cine Mayaka Sunday evening offers a different kind of depth with the Rwanda premiere of Planète B at Cine Mayaka. The film imagines a world where people are sent to a virtual prison and follows a story shaped by surveillance, identity, and resistance. The screening is part of European Arthouse Cinema Day and will be followed by a Q&A with French-Rwandese actress Eliane Umuhire. It is a chance to watch a thought-provoking film on the big screen and share space with one of its lead performers. The screening starts at 7 PM and is open to all cinema lovers. Stay in the loop with The New Times for the latest from Kigali's entertainment scene and breaking news. Follow us on social media for curated weekend picks and real-time updates.

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