On Sunday 11th August 2013, some Burundians and artists gathered at Nyakabiga Scheppers Lycee to celebrate the first edition of Bujumbura Summer Fest thanks to Jean Pierre Nimbona (Kidumu)- by Diane Uwimana.
Kidumu with his dancers at the podium.©Iwacu
From 1: 00 pm, several people were forming a queue at Nyakabiga Lycee gate, waiting to enter the playground as they were curious and eager to discover the Burundian talented artists.
As it was noticed on the poster displayed everywhere in the Buja City Council, Jean Pierre Nimbona nicknamed Kidumu, the most famous artist singer for the moment , was the head of the event. “I was shocked to find that it was only Burundi which didn’t organize such a festival while participating in similar kinds of events organized in EAC countries. This is the reason why I wanted this festival to be held at Bujumbura,” stated Kidumu. Children, youth, old people, black and white, women and men were present at the place to soothe their curiosity. Everyone was dancing and enjoying the rhythm of the music. Even artists from the countryside were there. There was a young artist called Rashidi from Kirundo who started the fest with his song “Kamaramagambo”.
Other famous artists and groups admired by Burundians were not absent: Rally Joe, a young lovely artist and prize winner of the best singer in the Primusic competition organized by Brarudi company last year, got the opportunity to exhibit his talent with Kidumu, the organizer of that First Fest and famous popular artist in EAC, Issa Jamal (Yoya) known for his nice song “Wiyumva gute?” a tune against corruption, Peace and Love widely known for their common themes of love and peace, Lion Story for their disenchanted songs against oppression, man -to -man exploitation, injustice, bribery etc, Agati k’Imana Dancers and other young artists. It is worth mentioning that some EAC artists were invited such as Jean Paul Samputu and Miss Allioni from Rwanda. According to Bruno Simbavimbere, the President of the “Amical des musiciens du Burundi”, this fest will allow young Burundian artists to value their songs and gather many Burundians: “thanks to Kidumu, Burundians have a nice opportunity to watch face -to -face their artists in concert”.
“If there is no support, it will probably be the first and last edition”
According to Kidumu, the initiator of the festival the event aims at gathering people in great joy. “Nothing is better than seeing people dancing and smiling around one objective. I am always invited throughout the world but I ask myself why I shouldn’t be invited in my own country,” deplored Kidumu. He indicated that the festival was a nice opportunity for all Burundians and foreigners living in the country to gather in the same place. Black and white people were surely happy to dance, smile and drink together while enjoying the rhythms of the different songs. “Everybody seemed to be reggae men and women when the Lion Story Group went on stage.” It is worth reminding that the podium was escorted from Rwanda and the cost of making the fest was evaluated at about BIF 30million.
According to Kidumu, the organizer and initiator, the festival required a lot of money for achieving the objective although there were few sponsors. “We can’t organize such an activity without support. Unfortunately, Burundians and Companies’ managers do not understand the importance of this activity. I have got only BIF 8 million from Burundi. But, because I was already committed to running this activity, I have done it. I didn’t earn anything as the activity was very expensive”, said Kidumu. For him, getting support should help and maintain the activity as an annual event rather than letting it be the first and last festival organized in the country. “I want the fest to be a national important annual day gathering many artists and Burundians in great joy in order to strengthen peace and love in the country”, concluded Kidumu.
IWACU Open Data
