Music star Ruhumuriza James, popularly known as King James, has written a new chapter in his career after staging two consecutive sold-out concerts at BK Arena to celebrate 20 years in the music industry.
The two concerts, held on Saturday, August 1, and Sunday, August 2, 2026, attracted thousands of fans who filled the country’s biggest indoor arena to celebrate an artist whose music has remained influential for two decades.
The shows came at a time when several other events were taking place across the country, including the CECAFA Kagame Cup, but that did not stop fans from arriving early at BK Arena, with many already inside the venue before the scheduled start time.
King James had initially planned to hold one concert on August 1, but after selling out the 10,000-capacity BK Arena in only three days, fans who missed tickets requested another opportunity, prompting the musician to add a second show the following day.
The second concert opened shortly before 8 p.m., with presenters Muyango Claudine and Lucky Nzeyimana welcoming fans to the celebration. Lucky shared a personal memory with the audience, saying King James’ song “Ni Iki Utabona” had played a role during his courtship.
Before the main performance, DJ Arthur took the stage and entertained the crowd with a selection of classic hits, particularly songs by Meddy, with fans singing along and dancing.
Emerging artist King V was later given a platform to showcase his talent, performing songs including “Christo,” “Oya,” “Suwawe” and “Tatu.”
At about 8:40 p.m., King James appeared on stage in a dramatic entrance accompanied by a group of dancers who formed the number “20”, representing the years he has spent in music.
The singer surprised fans by performing his opening song, “Naratomboye,” while inside a special aerial platform that gradually lowered him onto the main stage.
The night became a journey through King James’ catalogue, with the singer performing some of his biggest hits from different stages of his career. Among the songs that thrilled fans were “Narihannye,” “Nzakubona Ryari,” “Hari Ukuntu,” “Ikirezi,” “Ni Iki Utabona” and “Igitekerezo.”
Throughout the concert, King James invited artists he has collaborated with over the years to join him on stage, giving fans the chance to experience some of his popular collaborations live.
The musician returned to the stage three times during the performance, with each appearance drawing fans to their feet as they sang and danced along.
The second part of the show shifted towards more energetic songs, including “Abubu,” “Ndakwizera,” “Icyangombwa,” “Bagupfusha Ubusa” and “Nturare Utabivuze,” which kept the audience entertained.
The final moments of the concert featured emotional performances as King James thanked his supporters, family and fans who attended both shows.
“Ndabanza gushima cyane mwebwe, mwihe amashyi. Ndashima n’abandi baje ejo, numvise ko hari n’abagarutse. Ni amateka,” he told fans, thanking them for supporting the milestone celebration.
He later performed “Inzozi” and “Buhoro Buhoro,” two songs that received strong reactions from the audience, before closing the show with “Ndagutegereje,” a song he released in 2013.
The concert also featured several creative displays celebrating King James’ career, including fans wearing clothes carrying titles of his songs and a large display at BK Arena featuring a list of more than 100 songs he has released over the past 20 years.
Since entering the music scene, King James has released more than 100 songs across genres including R&B, Zouk, traditional Rwandan music, Reggae, Afrobeat and Rumba, building a reputation as one of Rwanda’s most recognised musicians.
The back-to-back BK Arena concerts marked a major milestone in his career and provided a celebration of a musical journey that has shaped Rwanda’s entertainment scene for two decades.
