Ras Banamungu Tops The Bill at Rwandan Celebrations.

Ras Banamungu and The Det-n-ators International once again demonstrated home-grown Rwandan talent at it’s very best as he and the Dets provided top class entertainment at last weekend’s Rwandan Community Abroad (RCA) celebrations in Perth.

An excellent traditional Kinyarwanda meal was laid on before before Ras took to the stage and joyfully enhanced the already wonderful atmosphere of ex-pat Rwandans and their friends living in Western Australia. Wishing each other the very best for 2021 and celebrating their past achievements of 2020.

Ras offered a great range of his hits, including ‘Hakuna Matata’, ‘I am Messenjah’, ‘Peace and Love’, ‘Hallelujah’, ‘Oneness’ and ‘Wantti Wantti’; the audience up on their feet and dancing to his irresistible ‘Shakkalakka -du’ groove in no time.

Beginning his second act with his latest song ‘Smiling Face of Australia’, he then invited Cedella up onstage with him to perform the duet ‘I in Need of Thee’. Her beautiful voice compliments Ras’s own in the most pleasing of ways. A great show ended with his last big hit ‘My Sunshine’, followed by the more traditional ‘Sakwe Sakwe’ and ‘Inka’. That he and the Det-n-ators had done their job well was very evident in the enthusiastic applause.

There is no doubt Ras Banamungu, based in Australia, is now firmly established on the international music scene and is now one of Rwanda’s biggest international stars.

Of the meeting itself, Manzi Claude, RCA’s leader, praised the progress made after a year in office. He confirmed that the organization has done very well, including uniting Rwandans and establishing a youth forum that will keep alive the history and culture that characterizes Rwanda.

Manzi also stated that a Women’s Forum had been set up to promote the welfare of Rwandan women now resident in Western Australia. The Rwandan Association of Perth also has plans to form an old-age community this year so that presently isolated folk can meet and make friends when they retire.

Also, the teaching of Kinyarwanda, the native tongue and culture of Rwanda, to Rwandan children, will be featured high on the list of priorities. Manzi impressed on parents the importance of speaking Kinyarwanda to their children at home. It is their heritage, he explained, and vital that they retain it.

It was proposed that the event become a yearly occasion and it will be a strong likelihood that Ras Banamungu and the Det-n-ators will be invited along next year.

A great and uplifting day and evening all round.