The band has played at most upscale entertainment spots in Kigali and it has a big following of jazz lovers. Makumbi Sound is a collection of many musicians including part timers and full time professionals.

How Makumbi Sound started

Drummer Andrew Mold, an economist, says the band was formed at the beginning of 2013. The founding members are two highly experienced guitarists; Ibrahim Tam Fum, originally from DR Congo and Chris Nicholson, who is a classically-trained guitarist from the Royal College of Music in the UK and, is involved in a number of NGOs that promote music in the country. Together they hatched the idea to play some jazz.   

The composition of the members

They rightly claim to be the most popular international band playing in Kigali right now. After Chris and Tam Fum, other regular members of the Sound include Tamon Oshimo, a trumpetist, Junior Keys Kafi, a local pianist, Elliot, a saxophonist from Kenya, and Kim Kwang, a bassist from South Korea.

Makumbi Sound is basically an instrumental band, but often there are guest singers who join, like American soul vocalist Ayla Schlosser and home girl Melody Ntawigaya, a jazz singer, among others.