Rwandan music star The Ben welcomed American internet personality Ashton Hall and his entourage to his residence in Kigali on the evening of July 12, 2026, for a dinner and cultural gathering.
The delegation included Ashton Small, popularly known as Kagarara, and Yogendra Kushwah, widely recognized online as the “Indian Ashton Hall.” The guests shared a meal with The Ben and enjoyed an evening of conversation and entertainment.
Upon their arrival, Ashton Hall and his team received a warm welcome from children supported by the Sherrie Silver Foundation, who performed an energetic showcase featuring traditional Rwandan dances alongside contemporary choreography. The performances highlighted Rwanda’s rich cultural heritage and created a vibrant atmosphere for the evening.
Although no formal speeches had been scheduled, Ashton Hall requested a brief opportunity to address those in attendance. He expressed his gratitude to The Ben for the hospitality and shared his admiration for Rwanda, describing it as the country that had made the strongest impression on him among all the destinations he has visited.
“Of all the countries I’ve traveled to, Rwanda is the one where I felt most at home. I believe I’ll be coming back because I’ve truly fallen in love with this country,” Hall said.
Unlike the rest of the delegation, Ashton Small (Kagarara) did not arrive with the group and joined the gathering later in the evening. However, his stay was brief due to a family bereavement.
Addressing those present, Small explained that his sister had recently lost her child, requiring him to leave early to support his family and assist with funeral preparations.
“It’s not out of disrespect. I would have loved to stay and share this moment with everyone, but my sister has lost her child, and I need to be with my family as we make arrangements for the funeral,” he said.
The gathering came after an earlier reception planned by The Ben for July 10, 2026, had to be postponed. Ashton Hall was unable to attend after arriving late at Kigali International Airport, where he missed his scheduled return flight.
After realizing he had missed his flight, Hall returned to his hotel and continued with other activities he had planned but had not previously been able to complete.
The unexpected change of schedule resulted in Rwanda becoming the country where Ashton Hall has spent the most time since beginning his tour of Africa. Before arriving in Rwanda, he had already visited Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Benin as part of his journey across the continent.
KIGALI TIMES