Israel Mbonyi’s “Icyambu 4” concert at BK Arena on December 25, 2025, stood as a powerful testament to the growing influence of gospel worship music in Rwanda and the wider East African region, blending artistic excellence, deep spirituality, and mass participation into a single unforgettable Christmas experience.

Filling the 10,000-seat arena for the fourth consecutive time, Mbonyi demonstrated not only his popularity but also the strong emotional and spiritual connection he has cultivated with his audience over the years.

From the moment he stepped onto the stage at 7:46 p.m., the atmosphere inside BK Arena transformed into a space of collective worship, where singing, dancing, reflection, and celebration flowed seamlessly together.

The presence of attendees from neighboring countries such as Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda further underscored the regional reach of his ministry and music, turning the concert into a cross-border gathering united by faith and praise rather than a simple musical performance.

Throughout more than four continuous hours on stage, Israel Mbonyi delivered a carefully structured musical journey that balanced energy and intimacy, joy and reflection, familiarity and novelty.

He performed a wide range of songs drawn from his entire career, including beloved classics that many in the audience knew word for word, as well as new compositions from his fifth album, Hobe, released earlier in October 2025.

Songs such as “Yaratwimanye,” “Nzibyo Nibwira,” “Nina Siri,” and “Icyambu” repeatedly reignited the crowd’s enthusiasm, while slower, contemplative pieces like “Hobe” invited moments of calm and introspection, with both the artist and audience seated in shared stillness.

The concert’s ability to sustain such high levels of engagement deep into the night, crossing into the early hours of the next day—revealed a rare endurance of both performer and audience, unified by a shared spiritual purpose rather than mere entertainment.

Beyond music, “Icyambu 4” was marked by moments of teaching, testimony, and gratitude that enriched its meaning. Pastor Aaron Ruhimbya’s brief sermon, rooted in 1 Timothy 3:16, reframed Christmas as a divine mystery revealed through Christ, reminding attendees that the celebration extended beyond festivity into faith and reflection.

Mbonyi himself used the platform to acknowledge institutions and partners who supported the event, including Bank of Kigali, Airtel, and World Vision, while also encouraging generosity through humanitarian initiatives such as the “Tanga Ifunguro” campaign.

These gestures reinforced the idea that worship, social responsibility, and community engagement are inseparable elements of his ministry. The integration of traditional Rwandan instruments and dancers at the beginning of the concert further grounded the event in cultural identity, symbolizing a faith expression that honors both spiritual conviction and local heritage.

In its conclusion, as Israel Mbonyi closed the night with “Hari Ubuzima,” the concert reached its emotional peak, leaving many attendees visibly moved yet still yearning for more. The final moments captured the essence of “Icyambu 4”: a gathering where exhaustion gave way to fulfillment, and where music became a vessel for hope, resilience, and collective belief.

Mbonyi’s journey, from his early life in eastern Congo to becoming one of the most influential gospel artists in the region, was reflected in the maturity and depth of the concert itself.

By once again filling BK Arena on Christmas Day, he not only reaffirmed his artistic stature but also solidified “Icyambu” as a modern tradition of worship in Rwanda, one that continues to shape how faith, music, and national celebration intersect in contemporary society.

Israel Mbonyi fills BK Arena for the fourth time in the Icyambu Live Concert Season 4. Pictures show how the concert unfolded