We first met him in 2015 through his hit song, Classic Man.

This time round, he’s headlining the Kigali Jazz Junction. We are talking about Jidenna TheodoreMobission, the 33-year-old American-Nigerian award winning rapper who goes by the stage name Jidenna.

Now, as part of his African performance tour, Jidenna is coming to Rwanda, specifically Kigali, to join local and guest artistes for performances on November 29.

The rapper will be performing alongside Rwandan artistes like Afro R & B musician Bruce Melodie, Deejay Marnuad, NEP Deejays and Koojo.

The 85 to Africa Tour kicked off on August 25, shortly after the release of Jidenna’s second music album, 85 to Africa.

The album is traced to an earlier one, The Chief (2017), his debut album, which arose from a trip to Africa.

Other songs by Jidenna are Particula, which featured Major Lazer, DJ Maphorisa, Ice Prince, Nasty C and Patoranking.

His other singles like A little Bit More (2016) and Boomerang (2017), also caught the attention of many for their catchy groove.

A blend of contemporary beats and Afro-centric tunes, 85 to Africa comprises 11 songs such as Sufi Woman, Vaporiza, Pretty and Afraid, Sou Sou, Jungle fever, Tribe, 85 To Africa.

Jidenna features artists like Nigerian Afro beat star Seun Kuti on Worth a Weight, Nigerian Afrobeat and pop artiste Mr Eazi on Zodi, American rapper GoldLink on Babouche and American R & B soul artistes St. Beauty and Mareba on The Other Half.

This performance tour is already lined up for 33 cities in the US, where Jidenna introduces this album.

Now, even Africa will enjoy part of his top act.

Having success fully kicked off with Lagos, Nigeria, on September 2, some of the events confirmed so far in Africa are South Africa’s 2019 Africans Unite Concert, which will see him performing alongside Nigeria’s Burna Boy and South Africa’s Kwesta, on November 24.

He is also to perform in Uganda, at the Abryanz Style and Fashion Awards on December 13, among other shows.

Past performances 

Emerging as Rwanda’s leading live performance event, the Kigali Jazz Junction has, since 2015, grown from initially only featuring performances by Rwandan artistes and bands, like Herbert Rock, Lillian Mbabazi, Elion Victory, Mani Martin, Sintex, Stellah Tushabe, Amalon, Yverry, Charly and Nina, Jules Sentore, Social Mula, Rosette Kalimba, Gabiro Gilbert, to legendary acts like Massamba Intore.

Past performances have included a few regional and international guest artistes like Kenya’s Mayonde, Cece Sagini and Christine Kamau, Uganda’s Isaiah Katumwa, Marsha Davids, Irene Ntare, Myco Ouma, Maurice Kirya, Mo Roots, Steven Kigozi and Cindy Sanyu.

It has also hosted acts like Limbali, Awilo Longomba and Ibrahim Tamfum from DRC, Nigeria’s Seyi Shay, Chilean guitarist Tito Al Uribe, alongside Phillisia Ross and Barbra Bannette (USA), Slai (France), South Africa’s Zahara and Ringo Madlingozi, the late Zimbabwean Oliver Mtukudzi among others.