Diner en Blanc is on today

TODAY will be an all white affair as the 5th edition of Diner en Blanc is held in Kigali. Kigali was the first city in Africa to host the event whose origin dates back to 1988 in France. The global social event is a gathering where people meet to wine and dine all clad in white.

Friday, July 22, 2016
Over the course of the evening, people eat, drink and celebrate amid music, entertainment and dancing. / Illume Creative Studio.

TODAY will be an all white affair as the 5th edition of Dîner en Blanc is held in Kigali. Kigali was the first city in Africa to host the event whose origin dates back to 1988 in France. The global social event is a gathering where people meet to wine and dine all clad in white. 

Since it was first organised in Rwanda, four years ago, the event has become popular with Rwandans, and has immensely contributed to the growth of the local creative industry. This year, fashion, music and entertainment enthusiasts have come up with incredible designs which guests will wear.

Beautiful all white floral arrangement and very elegant formal table setting from a previous Diner en Blanc in Kigali. / Illume Creative Studio.

"As the first African city to host the event, we really wanted to look at the elements that would promote Rwanda and at the same time invigorate Kigali’s businesses, its creative industry and the creativity of individuals,” said Joan Mazimhaka, the Managing Director of Illume Creative Studio, the event organisers. 

Mazimhaka noted that Dîner en Blanc events around the world take on unique styles and creativity of the respective country. 

Joan Mazimhaka, Managing Director of Illume Creative Studio. / Illume Creative Studio.

The glitzy event will feature performances by local talents, Ugandan jazz musician Isaiah Katumwa and Kenyan soul singer Mayonde.

The Dîner en Blanc concept dates back to 1988, when a group of friends at the initiative of François Pasquier decided to meet up in the outskirts of Paris, France—all dressed up in white so as to be able to recognize each other in the immense Bois de Boulogne, one of the two green lungs of the French capital. 

The concept has since spread to Montreal, Canada in 2009, New York City in 2011, while Singapore and Kigali City followed in 2012.

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