Kigali City Mayor Samuel Dusengiyumva has urged artists to stay sober when performing at concerts and other entertainment events, warning that their conduct can influence young people in the audience.
Dusengiyumva made the remarks while calling on event organisers to work more closely with artists to promote responsible behaviour, particularly at shows attended by large numbers of young people.
He said some artists have appeared on stage after consuming alcohol or using other substances, behaviour he described as inappropriate for performers who serve as role models to young audiences.
“We want to encourage event organisers that everyone who performs at events here in Kigali should be sober,” he said.
The mayor urged organisers to speak to artists before performances and remind them of the need to avoid alcohol and other substances while preparing to take the stage.
Dusengiyumva also called for greater attention to how artists and concertgoers dress, saying entertainment events should respect Rwanda’s culture, laws and social values.
He criticised what he described as instances where people attend concerts wearing clothing that exposes large parts of their bodies.
“If you are going to attend a concert, you should not wear inappropriate clothing,” he said.
The mayor said artists have a significant influence on young people and should therefore recognise their responsibility beyond entertainment.
He called on event organisers to make responsible conduct part of the planning and management of concerts rather than leaving the issue to individual performers.
Dusengiyumva noted that the Ministry of Youth and Arts Development has also been encouraging artists and other entertainment stakeholders to promote positive behaviour, but said more effort was still needed in Kigali.
He said concerts and other entertainment events should remain spaces where young people can enjoy themselves while also encountering positive messages and values that contribute to society.
The remarks come amid wider efforts by Kigali authorities to promote responsible conduct within the city’s entertainment sector, particularly at events that attract young audiences.
