The Annual Ubumuntu Arts Festival returns to Kigali with its 9th edition this year. Ubumuntu Arts Festival brings together artists, performers, and art enthusiasts from around the world to celebrate the essence of being human through the language of art. This year the festival will run under the theme “Believe: Faith Over Fear”.
Founded by the visionary Hope Azeda, a major figure in contemporary Rwandan theatre, the Ubumuntu Arts Festival has become a flagship event in Rwanda and the African art scene. Ubumuntu Arts Festival marks the culmination of the 100 days commemoration of the 1994 genocide. The festival is hosted at the open-air amphitheater of the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre, serving as a reminder of the resilience and spirit of the Rwandan people.
True to its name, Ubumuntu, “Being Human” in Kinyarwanda, the Ubumuntu arts festival aims to foster connections and understanding among people from diverse backgrounds. By bringing together artists, performers, and attendees from around the globe, the festival creates a platform for dialogue, empathy, and the exploration of shared humanity through various art forms.
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The program features performances that will transport audiences to a world of passion and creativity.
The festival will feature performances from renowned artists, actors, dancers, and musicians from across the continent and beyond including
Baby Steps: A Lifetime of Tiny Decision, an exploration of the delicate balance between faith and fear by Stages Theater Group in collaboration with Mashirika Performing Arts and Media, Kawaida Nzuri by Uganda’s Playwright Playhouse about societal pressures, personal identity, and the pursuit of artistic freedom, This is One Of Them, a captivating fusion of movement, music, and visual art curated and choreographed by Dorothée Munyaneza and accompanied by the music of Ben Lamar Gay, with sound Ben Lamar Gay and sculptures by Muhawenimana ‘Mackson’ Maximilie, Generation 25 by Mashirika Performing Arts and Media Company and more from from Brazil, Spain, Sri Lanka, Malawi, South Africa and more.
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The festival included the Cultural Diplomacy Conference hosted from July 12th to 13th, workshops that provide valuable insights on expanding artistic networks.
The 9th Ubumuntu Arts Festival will run at the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre for 3 days beginning 14th to 16th of July 2023. Tickets for the festival are available here.
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