Rwandan musician The Ben is set to host a concert on January 1, 2027, at BK Arena in Kigali, titled 'The New Year Groove'. This will be his third performance at the venue, but with a unique twist - he will be joined by renowned artists from different East African countries. The Ben expressed his desire to create a platform for artists from Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, Tanzania, and Kenya to come together and share the stage.
Tanzanian artist Diamond Platnumz is one of the top contenders to perform alongside The Ben. The two musicians have a history of collaboration, having released the hit song 'Why' in 2022, which gained significant attention across East Africa. They also performed together at the Trace Awards in Kigali in October 2023. Diamond has publicly expressed his admiration for The Ben, referring to him as his brother.
Another Ugandan artist likely to perform with The Ben is Rema Namakula. The two have a song together, 'This Is Love', released in 2020, which became a hit in Rwanda and Uganda. Rema attended The Ben's wedding in December 2023 and has also performed with him at various events, including the launch of Silverbacks Cafe in Musanze in June 2024.
Kenyan artist Bien-Aimé Baraza, formerly of Sauti Sol, is also rumored to be joining The Ben on stage. Although they have no collaboration history, Bien has expressed his desire to work with The Ben, citing his admiration for his music. Bien has performed in Kigali before and has built a reputation in East African music.
Big Fizzo from Burundi is another artist who could be representing his country at the concert. As a prominent musician in Burundi, he has a significant following in the country and the region. Although there is no recorded collaboration between Big Fizzo and The Ben, they are known to be acquainted with each other's music.
Joshua Baraka, a Ugandan musician, is also likely to perform with The Ben. In 2025, The Ben mentioned Joshua as one of the Ugandan artists he would like to collaborate with, praising his work and expressing his desire to work on a project together. Joshua has gained recognition in African music with songs like 'Nana'.
Lastly, Ugandan legend Jose Chameleone could be joining The Ben on stage. The Ben has publicly stated his desire to collaborate with Jose, citing Uganda as his second home and expressing his willingness to work with any artist willing to collaborate with him. With his extensive experience and popularity in Ugandan music, Jose's performance would be a significant addition to the concert.
Key points
- The Ben's 'The New Year Groove' concert will feature a mix of artists from East Africa, including Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, and Kenya.
- Artists like Diamond Platnumz, Rema Namakula, and Bien-Aimé Baraza are likely to perform alongside The Ben due to their collaboration history and popularity in the region.
- The concert aims to promote unity and collaboration among East African musicians and provide a platform for them to showcase their talents.
