Kigali catches Christmas fever, draped in festive colours

Kigali, Rwanda – With just six days left until Christmas, the festive season has kicked in with the City of Kigali already in the festive mood as residents prepare to celebrate the first Christmas without Covid-19 restrictions in nearly three years.

Main streets and downtown are lit in effervescent colours as Christmas décor takes centre stage. Corporate companies are competing for the streets with the best visibility as Christmas trees and Santa Claus and mock reindeers pop everywhere.

Downtown, streets and buildings are lit in bright Christmas colours, right from the main roundabout in town linking KN1, KN2 and KN3 streets, looking majestic at night, thanks to Bank of Kigali.

The stretch of KN3 right from town to where it joins KN5, going up to the airport is all lit at night with mock Christmas trees draped in lights standing between the equally lit palm trees.

Rwandans have taken to social media to appreciate efforts to decorate the city, with the City of Kigali building seemingly leading by example with exquisite Christmas lighting.

The lighting and décor ushering in the festive season have got city dwellers upbeat, anticipating a more joyous Christmas, despite economic shortfalls and frugality that many might experience this festive season.

Several shows and concerts have been organised to spice up the festive season and kick in the new year, with public gatherings and events fully permitted.

It is a Christmas like no other, at least in the past two Christmases were characterised by curfews and other Covid-19 preventive measures that prevented people from congregating and celebrating in crowds.

The excitement buoyed with promised freedom can be felt in the air. Despite the inflation effects, traders are hoping to cash in this festive season more than they did in the past two years, mainly because people stayed home as new coronavirus variants led to cautious celebrations.

“Overall, I expect a more optimistic, forward looking and joyous festive season than the past two years because most importantly we are free, not under any pandemic restrictions,”

“Regardless of the cash crunch, at least we have an opportunity to convene as families and enjoy together whatever we have, as long as we have hope that God is with us,” said Bernard Bahati Gakwandi, a resident of Nyarugenge sector, in Nyarugenge district.

By Linda M. Kagire, Kigali Rwanda