Rwanda: Mellow Couch Unveils Music Festival to Spotlight Rwanda's Hidden Talents

13 December 2023
The New Times (Kigali)
interview By Heritier Bahizi

Mellow Couch, a collective of artists, is set to launch MellowFest, a new festival aimed at bringing attention to some of the "slept-on talents" in the Rwandan music scene.

The festival is scheduled for Sunday, December 17, at Mundi Center, Rwandex. The lineup features artists often cherished by many but who rarely get the opportunity to perform live for their fans.

Mellow Couch is proudly bringing you the first annual ''MellowFest'' happening this Sunday at 4pm in Kigali! We're here to bring you more enjoyment and an amazing musical experience from some of the best artists coming out of East Africa. Get your tickets now!! pic.twitter.com/46IxVIMF11-- mellow couch (@MellowCouch) December 11, 2023

In an exclusive interview with Manzi Fleur, a rapper and member of Mellow Couch, The New Times delves into the details of Mellow Fest and the vision behind it.

Excerpts:

MellowFest and its mission

MellowFest is a concept that has been in the works for some time, originating from the collaboration of Manzi Fleur, Reddy, Sema Solé, and Mwiza- along with producer-engineer Reddy. Our mission is to contribute diverse forms of art to the world. The festival is designed to showcase emerging Rwandan music and connect it with a wider audience.

Beyond music, the event will offer various experiences, including vendors, drinks, and merchandise celebrating art.

The unconventional lineup

The inaugural edition boasts a lineup that might surprise many as it includes artists who haven't had much visibility in live performances despite having a dedicated listener base.

The selected artists, admired by the Mellow Couch collective, bring unique sounds, tastes, and artistry. The lineup features Nikita Heaven, PaintedBlvck, MaestroBoomin, TheDiceKid, 99 Gang, RY, Angell Mutoni, Underworra, Kraft Mutabazi, surprise performances, and performances by Mellow Couch artists Manzi Fleur and Sema Solé.

DJs K'Ru and Denis Kanaka will contribute to the musical experience too.

Expectations and future plans

Attendees can anticipate a good time immersed in beautiful music, aiming to conclude their week on a positive note.

Mellow Couch anticipates positive reception and plans to make future editions even more extensive and diverse. We encourage everyone to secure their tickets, invite friends, and prepare to add a plethora of new music to your daily playlists.

Tickets for Mellow Fest are priced at Rwf10,000, and attendees can pay using the MoMo code *182*8*1*865950# (Mellow Couch). Doors open at 5 pm.

Read the original article on New Times.

Tagged:
Copyright © 2023 The New Times. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.

AllAfrica publishes around 500 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.