The vibrant creativity industry is expecting another exiting year following confirmation of key events that are likely to light up entertainment scenes. Below are some events that have already jammed entertainment calendar across the country.

Week of Fashion

Gradually finding its place in the fashion scene, the event brings together Rwandan to international fashion designers. Organised by prominent Rwandan fashion creatives, the event that taking place in July previously featured works by House of Tayo, Sonia Mugabo, Inzuki, Haute Baso, Inzuki, Moshions and Amizero. This has made it emerge as a sole corporate platform for local and international fashion icons.

Seka Fest

Taking place in April, the event organised by Arthurnation also features performances by local, regional and international stand up comedians. The two-day event will feature a day of comedy on the bus during which comedians stage performances for passengers aboard public buses in Kigali, then another day for stage performances.

Shyuha Automobile Show

The event gearing for its return in July is dedicated to the automobiles. Launched in 2017, the event fronts the celebration of automobiles, from ancient times, dating as far as the 1940s to modern current cars. Though originally dedicated to cars, it has incorporated motorcycles too.

Ubumuntu Arts Festival

Dedicated to celebrate humanity, the festival initiated in 2015 which features local, regional to international countries in music, theatre, contemporary dance appearances and workshops will be held at the Kigali Genocide Memorial Amphitheatre from July 17th to 19th.

Rwanda Film Festival

The festival is aimed at nurturing local, regional and international filmmakers and projects. The event running to 15th edition in July, features a celebration of film and filmmakers. For a week, the festival involves film screenings, workshops in Kigali and other districts around the country in addition to an award.

Mashariki African Film Festival

Initiated in 2015, the festival encompasses a week of film screenings and workshops for local filmmakers in Kigali. The 5th edition taking place in March will feature film projects from the region and beyond.

Rwanda Christian Film Festival

Dedicated towards awarding local, regional and international Christian films, the festival takes place in December. Featuring three days of screening and awarding of the best films in Kigali, the festival has featured film makers from Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, Uganda, South Africa and USA.

FESPAD and Umuganura

Organised by the Rwandan government under Ministry of Youth and Culture, the Pan-African Dance Festival (FESPAD) is aimed at the celebrating African dance, and features local and international dancers and drummers. The weeklong event, featuring tours through various districts in Rwanda is coincided with the Umuganura, which celebrates and awards national efforts in various sectors like agriculture ICT, Investment and banking.

Kigali Up Music Festival

Although grappling with sponsorship challenges, this is the event that stands out as the leading platform for live music for close to ten years. Though it took a break in 2018, the event which has before featured artistes from Canada, France, USA, South Africa, Switzerland, Belgium Senegal, Brazil, France, Congo, Mali, Kenya, Burundi and Uganda is characterized by performances from musicians, poets, Deejays and visual artists.

East African Nights of Tolerance

The contemporary dance festival has for the past seven years created a sole platform that captures attention for fronting the contemporary dance. Organised by Amizero Kompagnie, a Rwanda dance group, the festival held in Kigali in November, has featured countries Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, DRC, Belgium, Cameroun, and Tanzania, France, Cote d’Ivoire, Uk among other countries through workshops and stage performance.

Kigali International Comedy Festival

Initiated by Rwanda’s Comedy Knights, a leading stand Up Comedy group, the two-day festival has featured stand up comedians from Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, Uganda, Japan, South Africa and DRC.