Kigali is known for its overwhelming fan moments, interesting and thrilling moods on the last days of the year but this time the mood was almost sombre and celebrations muted.

Never mind that the Rwanda National Police had offered to drive home revellers who could not find their way home, either for being too drunk or exhausted, both during the day and at night.

All entertainment places were freely accessible and well protected. Still, the city remained as calm as just another weekend. Even the year-end events that are often popular and well attended this time flopped.

Large events like Happy People usually attract thousands of party animals, including many holidaymakers from different corners of the world who freely mingle with their Rwandan hosts. But the ninth edition of Happy People at the Kigali Serena on December 31 was a pale shadow of past editions.

“What’s happening in Kigali? Happy People is not as attended as usual, other parties around tonight are not well attended, even nightclubs are all empty,” Remy Nsanga, the main organiser of the event, was heard wondering.

But some party dwellers blamed the organisers of the event for having changed the venue from the spacious and affordable Minafet, where most of its editions were held, to the five-star hotel.

“We used to buy beers like Heineken at Rwf1,500; here it is sold at Rwf4,000, and these three friends are all on my bill. How many do you think I will consume before my wallet gets exhausted?” one reveller posed.

Yet the event organisers had hired both conference rooms at the hotel, expecting a big turnout.

Now over to One Love, which had an event called The Kigali New Year Big Bang that had dancers at hand to thrill the audience. But until past midnight the event had not started. Only a couple of high school students were dancing to the music playing in the background.

Moderate attendance

Many of them ended up flocking a nearby day-breaker event at Sawa City Supermarket, opposite Executive Carwash. Here, another year-end event, Ace of Spades, had a moderate attendance despite its friendlier Rwf5,000 entry fee.

People of different ages were dancing to every tune from the deelay’s turntables, probably attracted by the pocket-friendly drinks and eats as well.

Just across the hill, however, the night was livelier. The nightclub at Papyrus Bar and Restaurant in Kimihurura was at 2am filled to the corridors with revellers dancing to the music being played.

KGL had its usual crowd, just like an ordinary weekend.

K-Club, where nightlife is usually interesting, did not pull a big crowd despite Ugandan musician Peter Miles performing live.

Another big slump was seen on the first day of 2014, when a long-awaited huge gospel event at Christian Life Assembly (CLA) recorded a low attendance.

Ugandan gospel artiste Judith Babirye performed in front of just about 50 people at the church, which normally holds more than 5,000 people. The musician, flown in specially for the concert, nonetheless gave the audience value for money.

The East African Party would turn out to be the consolation for an otherwise lucklustre year-end, managing to pull in a sizeable crowd.

At Amahoro National Stadium’s parking yard, both traditional and contemporary local musicians performed. The crowd was treated to performances by the legendary Cecile Kayirebwa, Mwitenawe Augustin, Orchestre Impala, Intore Masamba, Mani Martin, Knowless and Riderman, among others.