France Mpundu Unplugged ( Live Performance | Kigali 2026 at Institut Français du Rwanda)

France Mpundu Marks a Major Milestone with a Sold-Out First Concert at Institut Français Kigali, January 2026 On Friday, January 16, 2026, Rwandan artist France Mpundu delivered her first solo concert at the Institut Français de Kigali, in a performance that has since been described by the institution itself as the biggest show ever hosted at the venue. The concert, which began at 7:30 p.m. and concluded close to 11:00 p.m., drew a full house and marked a significant moment in the artist’s growing career. The initiative for the concert was led by HuHa Records, a Rwandan record label managed by Bernard “Nando”, a well-respected public figure in the country’s music industry. The collaboration around the event contributed to the professional structuring and execution of a concert that would go on to attract unprecedented attention, both locally and internationally. The audience reflected the diversity of France Mpundu’s artistic reach. Music fans, supporters who discovered her through Secret Story Afrique Season 2, friends, family members, and public figures gathered alongside both local and international attendees. Notably, more than half of the tickets were purchased from outside Rwanda, with strong support coming from Francophone countries such as Niger, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, France, Senegal, and Benin, as well as from the United States and Canada. According to figures shared after the event, the concert exceeded initial expectations by more than five times in terms of ticket sales. This international mobilization of fans positioned France Mpundu as one of the first artists in Rwanda to attract such a level of continental attention through a live performance, driven primarily by audience support rather than institutional promotion. Beyond the numbers, the concert stood out for its artistic coherence and live execution. France Mpundu performed entirely live, offering a musical journey that allowed the audience to engage closely with her sound and emotional universe. The evening was hosted by renowned photographer and comedian Kamanda Promesse, whose presence as master of ceremonies energized the room and added a dynamic layer to the show. Artistically, France Mpundu took a central role in shaping the concert. She personally directed the musical script and stage performance, working with a carefully selected band of musicians from Nyundo Music School. Guest performances by Juno Kizigenza and Ken Umu further enriched the experience, creating moments of collaboration that resonated strongly with the audience. The visual dimension of the concert also reflected this attention to detail. France Mpundu appeared on stage with a distinctive and creative sense of style, supported by a stage design and décor crafted by Dream Decor and NOUVŌ. Together, the visual and musical elements formed a coherent narrative aligned with her artistic identity, reinforcing the idea of the concert as a carefully constructed storytelling experience rather than a simple performance. Organized in close collaboration with her family and her professional entourage, the concert carried a notably intimate atmosphere. This personal involvement was felt throughout the evening, creating a sense of proximity between the artist and the audience. As the crowd sang and danced along, the shared energy transformed the event into a collective celebration rather than a one-sided spectacle. For France Mpundu, the evening represents more than a successful first concert. It marks a new milestone in her musical journey and signals a shift toward a broader, continental dimension of her career , one grounded in artistic independence, live performance, and a strong connection with her audience.