Rwandan filmmaker and musician Jacques Muligande, better known as Mighty Popo, is set to debut his first feature film, “Killer Music,” to an international audience after it was selected for the 8th Africa Film Festival in South Korea.
“Killer Music” is one of 16 productions from 15 African countries featured at the event, taking place from May 21 to June 14 across Busan, Seoul, and Jeonju. Organised by the Korea-Africa Foundation, the festival aims to highlight diverse narratives from the continent and coincides with the 2026 Korea-Africa Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.
For Rwanda’s burgeoning film industry, this selection represents a significant achievement, showcasing a locally produced feature alongside films from nations with more established cinematic histories such as South Africa, Nigeria, Morocco, and Kenya.
The film premiered on September 14, 2025, at Century Cinema in Kigali and is slated to screen on June 12 during the festival’s Jeonju segment at Jeonju Digital Independent Movie Cinema.
Set in Rwanda’s vibrant contemporary music scene, “Killer Music” follows the journey of four aspiring artists—Sine, Mwiza, Shannon, and Ira—as they vie for success in a high-stakes music competition. As the contest unfolds, a violent event unveils underlying tensions and criminal activities that transform the contestants’ relationships and ambitions.
Produced by Sakara Production, with Mighty Popo serving as the executive producer and Indian-Rwandan director Anirban Mitra at the helm, this project took three years to develop and involved over 250 cast and crew members. It also provided a platform for emerging talent by bringing together students from the Rwanda School of Creative Arts and Music with seasoned industry professionals.
Filming took place in various locations throughout Rwanda, featuring a diverse cast from Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya, including notable performers such as Serah Wanjiru, Simon Kalema, Lucarelli Onyango, Felicity Mandela, Doreen Nabbanja, Pelly Nampanga, Jules Sentore, Vanessa Uwase, Patrick Mugisha, and Luckman Nzeyimana.
Upon the film’s launch in Kigali, Mighty Popo expressed that “Killer Music” is envisioned as the first chapter of a planned trilogy. The project aims to strengthen Rwanda’s film ecosystem by promoting locally created narratives, skill development, and international collaboration.
