On the night of October 5, 2025, gospel singer Israel Mbonyi launched his fifth studio album titled “Hobe” at a fully packed Intare Conference Arena in Kigali. Among the thousands of attendees was Merci Fally, a well-known Rwandan comedian and founder of Gen Z Comedy.

But what stood out wasn’t just the music, it was the reaction Merci shared afterward. He spoke passionately about how Mbonyi’s songs deeply move people spiritually, even though he rarely mentions God by name.

In a heartfelt reflection after the show, Merci said: “Mbonyi sings about God and you feel it, even though he never says His name. You just know!”

Known for his humor and youthful energy, Merci Fally made it clear that he usually only attends comedy shows, but he makes an exception for Mbonyi. “I don’t attend any concerts unless they’re comedy. But Israel Mbonyi’s concerts? I always go.”

Israel Mbonyi opened the show with his hit “Nina Siri”, then introduced a brand-new Amapiano-style song that sent the crowd into a frenzy. Throughout the night, he performed nearly all 14 tracks from his new trilingual album, featuring Kinyarwanda, English, and Swahili.

Merci was especially moved by the spiritual depth of the lyrics, saying: “He’s a gifted songwriter. He’ll say something like, ‘When I get there, I’ll sing of the love He showed me,’ and you immediately know he’s talking about God, even without saying it.”

He referenced Israel Mbonyi’s popular song “Ndanyuzwe” as a perfect example. In it, the artist never says “God” or “Jesus” directly, yet the entire song carries the unmistakable presence of the divine.

“You can’t write like that unless you’re prayerful,” Merci added.
“He’ll say ‘that man spoke to me,’ and you know he means God. That’s not normal. That’s spiritual.”

The concert, which ran from 6:00 PM until nearly 2:30 AM, left fans wanting more, even as the crowd slowly thinned out due to the late hour and venue location. But the emotional impact lingered, especially for people like Merci who felt they had experienced more than just a music event.

In closing, Fally Merci shared words that summarize the power of Mbonyi’s ministry through music: “He talks about ‘that man,’ and you just know, he means God. You feel Him, even when He’s not named.”

Indeed, Israel Mbonyi continues to be a unique voice in gospel music, one who doesn’t just sing about God, but makes you feel God.

Comedian Merci Fally shares how the Israel Mbonyi’s lyrics powerfully reveal God, without ever mentioning Him by name

On the night of October 5, 2025, gospel singer Israel Mbonyi launched his fifth studio album titled “Hobe” at a fully packed Intare Conference Arena in Kigali