Veteran journalist Steven Mutangana Boshya has launched a book on the role of the media in promoting culture.

The book, written in French, is titled La communication pours la valorisation du patrimoine culturel du Rwanda, which loosely translates as "The role of media in promoting Rwandan culture.”

At the launch, Peacemaker Mbungiramihigo, the executive secretary of Media High Council, praised the author.

"Boshya has invested his passion in writing a book. As Media High Council, we would like to pledge our support to his future endeavours aimed at promoting culture,” said Mbungiramihigo.

Francois Nyangezi, who represented the Ministry of Sports and Culture, and Alphonse Umulisa, director-general of the Institute of National Museums of Rwanda, also lauded Boshya’s effort and pledged to work with him to promote the book.

Boshya is a journalist who has previously worked with Radio Rwanda, from where he gained the inspiration to write the book in which he urges all stakeholders in culture to work closely with the media to keep the Rwanda culture alive.

"I wanted the Ministry of Culture to know that the media can also be involved in efforts to promote and conserve the Rwandan culture,” he told The New Times, adding that he developed the idea of penning the book while he was away from home, for his studies at University of Alexandria, in Cairo, Egypt.

In Egypt, Boshya got up-close with deep, rich and well preserved Egyptian culture and he felt it necessary to do something about his own culture.

The book has two parts with one showing the role of media in promoting culture and the beauty of Rwanda’s cultural heritage.

In the second part of the book, the writer offers solutions to what is still hindering the media from being of great help in promoting Rwanda’s culture.

The book is accessible through international outlets such as Amazon, Eurobuch and many others although it’s not yet on the shelves of Rwanda’s bookstores.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw