KIGALI, Rwanda —The mixture of songs performed in English and French by Rwandan cabaret singer Captain Regis, was no more than mood music for the small number of patrons spread across the vast lawn at the Igitego Hotel in Kigali, Rwanda on Sunday evening.

But when he started the first lines of the Bob Marley classic, No Woman Nuh Cry, it immediately grabbed the attention of his audience. Tipped off that there was a Jamaican in the house, Captain Regis went all the way into a Bob Marley medley which included a rendition of Three Little Birds.

The latter saw two audience members providing background vocals for the singer.  They later identified themselves as Michelle, a Jamaican who lives in Florida and her Bahamian partner Kennett, who are vacationing in Rwanda.

The presence of the Jamaicans pushed Captain Regis to continue his Marley renditions — much to the appreciation of his small audience.

A much louder sound system set up meters away, was also heard playing several Marley classics.

– Arthur Hall