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Press Release

Press Release – For Immediate Release

Kigali, Rwanda | 8 July 2019

2019 Ubumuntu Arts Festival to Break Down Barriers

Africa’s premier performing arts event for social change, Ubumuntu Arts Festival, returns to Kigali to celebrate humanity with artists from 16 countries. This year, the festival will focus on the role of art to break down the barriers that cause hate and discrimination, as well as promote honest conversations in society.

Our lives are increasingly marked and divided by borders and boundaries. At a time of increased migration, refugee crises and unequal visa policies, geographical borders are becoming more visible as lines that separate countries, regions and people. These borders influence, shape and limit our lives. Boundaries that are hidden, sometimes even invisible, have the same effect. Whether structural, historical or emotional, the boundaries that exist in our minds hold us back from connecting deeply with the world. This year’s festival aims to tackle these issues.

The fifth Ubumuntu Arts Festival takes place from 12-14 July 2019 at the Kigali Genocide Memorial Amphitheatre. Entry is free for all.

Through performances and workshops, participants will explore the theme ‘When the Walls Come Down – Truth’ and connect with concepts and stories of openness and authenticity by sharing perspectives and experiences. The festival activities will examine the effect of physical and emotional boundaries on social cohesion.

Hope Azeda, Festival Curator, says the fifth edition of the festival seeks to pose questions and share answers about the state of social relations around the world – from inequality and injustice to hate and discrimination.

“Our world is facing indifference and prejudice. Barriers limit communities from free expression and connection. As artists, it is our duty to spread positive thinking and change hearts and minds. We want to inspire the next generation to be peacemakers and empathic leaders. The festival is the perfect space for transformative arts. I encourage everyone to join us for Ikaze Night Party and this year’s festival,” said Hope Azeda, Festival Curator.

The festival has partnered with local creatives to host side events that explore this year’s theme. In collaboration with Huza Press, the festival presents a literary evening with the renowned author Lola Shoneyin at Kigali Public Library on 13 July 2019 from 5:30pm. Spoken Word Rwanda will bring together poets and feature South Africa’s Lebogang Mashile on 10 July 2019 at Lavana Restaurant, from 8:00pm.

The Ubumuntu Arts Festival brings together people from different walks of life to speak to each other in the language of art. To keep the festival world-class and free for all, the Ikaze Night Party has been organised. Funds raised from ticket sales for Ikaze Night Party support in bringing talents artists to be part of the festival in remarkable Rwanda.

Ubumuntu is the Kinyarwanda word for ‘humanity’, and calls for unity amongst all peoples of the world, promoting love and inclusion and rejecting hatred and discrimination.

Ubumuntu Arts Festival

  • Dates: 12 – 14 July 2019
  • Location: Kigali Genocide Memorial Amphitheatre
  • Time: Media is advised to arrive by 3pm on all days.

Ikaze Night Party

  • Date: 11 July 2019
  • Location: Kigali Convention and Exhibition Village (Akagera Hall)
  • Entry Fee: Rwf 15,000

Spoken Word Rwanda – in partnership with Ubumuntu Arts Festival

  • Date: 10 July 2019
  • Location: Lavana Restaurant
  • Cover Charge: Rwf 2,000

An Evening with Lola Shoneyin

  • Dates: 13 July 2019
  • Location: Kigali Public Library
  • Entry Fee: Free

Itangazo Rigenewe Abanyamakuru

Kigali, Rwanda | Kuwa 8 Nyakanga 2019

Ubumuntu Arts Festival 2019 Izaha Rugari Ibiganiro Bisenya Ibikuta

Iserukiramuco rya mbere muri Afurika mu buhanzi n’ubugeni hagamijwe impinduka mu mibereho y’abantu, rizwi nka “Ubumuntu Arts Festival” rigiye kongera kubera i Kigali mu mikino yerekana ibikorwa bya kimuntu, aho rizitabirwa n’abahanzi bavuye mu bihugu 16. Uyu mwaka, iri serukiramuco rizibanda ku ruhare rw’ubuhanzi mu gukuraho imipaka yenyegeza urwango n’ivangura ndetse no kwimakaza ibiganiro byo kubwizanya ukuri mu bantu.

Ibice tubamo bigenda birushaho kurangwa no gutandukanywa n’imbibi, inzitiro n’imipaka. Muri iki gihe aho usanga abantu bakomeje kwimuka ku bwinshi, impunzi zikiyongera, imipaka n’ibyemezo byo kwinjira mu bindi bihugu bikarushaho gukazwa, ni ko imipaka yashyizweho n’abantu igenda irushaho gutandukanya ibihugu, uduce runaka, n’abantu. Uretse kuba hariho imipaka n’inzitiro bitandukanya ibihugu bigira uruhare mu guhindura ubuzima tubayemo, hariho n’imipaka yihishe rimwe na rimwe itagaragarira amaso twavuga ko ishingiye ku miterere, amateka n’ibyiyumvo – imwe iba mu mitekerereze yacu ikanatubuza kwiyumvisha mu buryo bwuzuye ibyaranze amateka y’undi muntu.

Iri serukiramuco rizaba tariki ya 12-14 Nyakanga 2019 ahabera ibitaramo ku Rwibutso rwa Jenoside rwa Kigali, aho kwinjira ari ubuntu kuri buri wese.

Binyuze mu  bihangano n’ibiganiro bitandukanye byateguwe, abazaryitabira bazamenya byinshi ku nsanganyamatsiko igira iti ‘Iyo inkuta Zivuyeho, Ukuri Kujya Ahabona. Ibi kandi bizahuzwa no gusangira ibitekerezo n’inkuru z’ukuri zishingiye ku buhamya bw’abantu batandukanye. Ibyo byose bizagaragaza ingaruka imipaka yaba igaragara n’itagaragara igira ku bumwe bw’abantu.

Hope Azeda watangije iri serukiramuco avuga ko iri serukiramuco rigiye kuba ku nshuro ya gatanu rigamije kubaza ibibazo no gusangira ibisubizo byabyo ku mibanire y’abantu ku isi hose, kuva ku busumbane n’akarengane kugera ku rwango n’ivangura.

Yagize ati: “ Isi yacu iri kurangwa no kuba ba nyamwigendaho no kugirirana urwikekwe. Imipaka ikomeje kubuza abantu kugenda no gutekereza mu bwisanzure. Nk’abahanzi, ni inshingano yacu gukwirakwiza ubutuma bwiza bugamije guhindura imitima n’imitekerereze. Dushaka kandi kubera urugero rwiza abazadukomokaho kugira ngo bazabe baharanira amahoro ndetse babe n’abayobozi barangwa n’urukundo. Iri serukiramuco ni umwanya mwiza cyane wo kureka ubuhanzi bugakora akabwo mu guhindura byinshi. Ndashishikariza buri wese kuzaza kwifatanya natwe mu gitaramo ‘Ikaze Night Party’ no mu iserukiramo ry’uyu mwaka.”

Ku bufatanye n’abandi banyabugeni b’ino, iri serukiramuco ryateguye ibindi bikorwa bizabera ahantu hatandukanye biri mu murongo umwe n’insanganyamatsiko y’uyu mwaka. Ku bufatanye na Huza Press, iri serukiramuco ryateguye umugoroba w’ubuvanganzo uzaba urimo umwanditsi uzwi cyane Lola Shoneyin. Ni kuri 13 Nyakanga 2019 guhera saa 5:30 z’umugoroba ku isomero rusange rya Kigali (Kigali Public Library). Hari kandi igitaramo cyateguwe na Spoken Word Rwanda aho abasizi batandukanye barangajwe imbere n’umunyafurika y’Epfo Lebogang Mashile bazakora mu nganzo muri resitora ‘Lavana Restaurant’, kuwa 10 Nyakanga 2019 guhera saa 8:00 z’umugoroba.

Iserukiramuco ‘Ubumuntu’ rihuza abantu b’imihanda yose bakaganira mu rurimi rwa gihanzi. Kugira ngo iri serukiramuco ry’akataraboneka ryitabirwe na buri wese ku buntu, hateguwe igitaramo ‘Ikaze Night Party’. Innkunga y’amafaranga izaturuka ku matike azagurwa n’abazitabira iki gitaramo, azifashishwa mu kugeza mu Rwanda abahanzi b’abanyempano batandukanye.

Ubumuntu ni ijambo ry’ikinyarwanda ritumira buri wese ku isi hose kunga ubumwe, gukundana, no kwamagana urwango n’ivangura.

Iserukiramuco “Ubumuntu”

  • Amatariki: 12 – 14 Nyakanga 2019
  • Aho bizabera: Ahabera ibitaramo ku Rwibutso rwa Jenoside rwa Kigali
  • Itangazamakuru risabwe kuhagera saa cyenda buri munsi.

Igitaramo ’Ikaze Night Party’

  • Itariki: 11 Nyakanga 2019
  • Aho bizabera: Kigali Convention and Exhibition Village (Camp Kigali mu ihema Akagera Hall)
  • Ibiciro byo Kwinjira: Rwf 15,000

Igitaramo Spoken Word Rwanda – Ku bufatanye n’Ubumuntu Arts Festival

  • Itariki: 10 Nyakanga 2019
  • Aho kizabera: Lavana Restaurant
  • Ibiciro: Ibihumbi 2,000 by’amafaranga y’u Rwanda

Umugoroba wo Gusoma na Lola Shoneyin

  • Itariki: 13 Nyakanga 2019
  • Aho uzabera: Isomero Rusange rya Kigali
  • Kwinjira: Ubuntu

To register your media house to attend the festival, please email Dany Rugamba at dany@spruik.rw. For more information, visit www.ubumuntuartsfestival.com and follow @UbumuntuArtFest for updates prior to the event.

Media Resources

Resources including photos and videos will be shared with the media for use with appropriate credits.

Partners

The 2019 Ubumuntu Arts Festival has been made possible thanks to the generous support of the following partners:

  • Skol Rwanda
  • McNulty Foundation
  • United States Embassy – Rwanda
  • Kigali Genocide Memorial/Aegis Trust
  • British Council
  • George K
  • Legacy XP
  • The Embassy of the Netherlands – Rwanda
  • Sulfo Rwanda
  • Africa Digital Media Academy
  • Randall Foundation
  • Goethe Institute
  • The Swiss Cooperation
  • Rwanda Academy of Language and Culture
  • Ministry of Sports and Culture, Rwanda
  • Sorwathe