The Ubumuntu Arts Festival returns for its fifth edition and is set to kick off on July 12 to 14, at the Kigali Amphitheatre.

The event is characterised by performances, which kick off with the Ikaze Night, which features live music and theatre performances by musicians and theatre groups.

This year’s Ikaze Night performances feature Surface (Netherlands), Lilian Mbabazi (Uganda), Street dancers Company (DRC) Alexander Star (USA), Uni dance, National Ballet and Mashirika from Rwanda.

The event aims to raise money to help facilitate the festival. It also seeks to feature live performances of music, drama, poetry, traditional and contemporary dance, by local and guest acts.

Started in 2015 by Rwanda’s Mashirika Arts and Performance media company director Hope Azeda, the festival is characterised by live theatre, panel discussions, dance and music and has grown not only in audience numbers, but in attracting performers from other countries around the world.

With each edition taking place at the Kigali Genocide Memorial Amphitheatre, the festival is not considered to be commercial and so it is free to the public.

The festival banks on a few partners and sponsors.