Rwandan multi-award-winning artist Bruce Melodie and Nigerian star musician BNXN brought unmatched energy inside the BK Arena with powerful performances after Saturday’s Day 5 games of the Nile Conference at the BK Arena.
APR supporters were down after their side lost 102-106 to Libyan champions Al Ahli Tripoli but the atmosphere changed completely when the two musicians took the stage and lit up the Arena, just minutes after the game, with a series of back-to-back hits.
Melodie was the first to show on stage and started to perform fan favourites like Saa Moya, Rosa, Byaranzé, and more.
Despite Arena’s sound issues, his powerful vocals and flawless delivery had the crowd on their feet, singing along each of the track he performed.
Bruce Melodie turned heads with his entrance attire, an eye-catching car race-inspired outfit that drew clear inspiration from actor Damson Idris’s recent Met Gala look.
The white and-silver ensemble blended futuristic flair with sporty edge, perfectly matching the high-energy spirit of the night.
“From the moment Bruce Melodie walked in, you could feel the energy shift. That racing-style outfit was so bold, he looked like a superstar ready to take over. The dancers’ moves were sharp, full of energy, and the crowd was feeding off it,” said Kevin Murerwa, one of the basketball fans who watched Melodie’s performance.
“Every song he performed was a hit, especially Rosa and Byaranzé. He really knew how to hype the stadium 10 out of 10 performances. And the crowd forgot a little bit about the fact that APR lost and you could see that people are happy again,” said Sam Niyomugabo, fan at BK Arena.
Up next was BNXN, who took the stage at around 9:00 p.m. and kept the momentum going with a powerful set of crowd-favourite hits.
He thrilled fans with his chart-topping tracks, including “Ole” featuring Qing Madi, “Finesse” with Pheelz, “Gwagwalada” featuring Kizz Daniel and Seyi Vibez, “Propeller” with JAE5 and Dave, Bae Bae, and “Cold Outside” featuring Timaya.
The performance added an electric dose of entertainment to an already thrilling basketball showdown, showcasing how the BAL continues to blend world-class sport with top-tier African music and culture.
The post-game performances followed Kenny K-Shot’s stage where he kept the arena crowd to its usual hype during APR Vs Al Ahli Tripoli halftime show earlier on.
