Ten years ago now, Ubumuntu Arts Festival seemed unimaginable grappled with challenges.

However, the festival, against all odds, rose from the scratch, to become Rwanda’s premier multicultural event.

Now marking its 10-year anniversary, the Ubumuntu Arts Festival is celebrating tremendous evolution and the indelible impact it has had to both renowned artists and emerging talents from all walks of life who managed to utilise art as a platform to foster societal transformation.

The special 10th edition of the festival opened Friday, July 19 and it will run until July 28 under the theme "Integrity: Resilience in the Face of Adversity.”

Particularly, this year’s edition honours artists who have shown steadfast commitment and innovative spirit. The event&039;s activities are being held at the Kigali Genocide Memorial's amphitheatre. Some sessions will take place in Nyamata, Bugesera District.

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The annual event centres around a powerful means of communication, providing a platform for expressing opinions, addressing pertinent issues, and sharing universal values that impact humanity. It began with classic performances by dancers, poets, singers and actors in a special celebration of 10 years in a row.

Among standout performances was "Generation 25" by Mashirika Performing Arts and Media Company.

Written and directed by Hope Azeda and Yannick Kamanzi, the play centers around breaking the silence 30 years after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, an atrocity that claimed over 1 million lives of innocent Tutsi.

The title "Generation 25" reflects the emergence of a new generation of youth born 25 years after the genocide. This generation seeks reconciliation, hope, and freedom despite the weight of Rwanda’s infamous tragedy.

The play featured Rwandan artists including rapper King Kivumbi and Peace Jolis, who reclaimed the memory of a tragedy they did not live through. These artistes, acting as children of genocide survivors or orphans, and those born to parents who survived or perpetrated the crimes, raised their voices to break the curse of silence.

In a restorative choral piece, they questioned the past, the blindness, and the responsibility of those who preceded them. Together, they danced and sang to forge a common future. "Generation 25" is a story in the making, an engaged and vital expression that leaves no one untouched.

Another play was "AM AFRICAN" by Jazzart Dance Theatre from South Africa, choreographed by Sifiso Kweyama.

The play explores what it means to be or be identified as African, questioning whether "we are collectively proud of our diverse identity.”

"To be African means to be an individual who is part of a larger whole. It means celebrating our diversity in a way that promotes understanding while focusing on the challenges facing our countries and continent. This involves remembering who we are, our lineage, our belief systems, and our beings.”

The piece serves as a reminder for every African to "be proud of who we are, honouring our past as we build our future together.”

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Rwanda’s Minister of State for Youth and Arts Sandrine Umutoni was among guest attendees of the official opening of festival anniversary held at Kigali Genocide Memorial Amphitheatre.

As Ubumuntu Arts Festival celebrates 10 years striving for humanity and integrity, Umutoni emphasised the importance of art in the development of the country, mostly the diplomacy, economy and preserving culture.

"They&039;re promoting creative economy, cultural diplomacy, better relationships with other countries as tonight we saw performances from various countries such as Pakistan, USA, South Africa and more. The fact is, it's being held at Kigali Genocide Memorial which is a strong lesson on memory, resilience and importance of showcasing humanity."

She also hinted on the government’s support towards such ventures that promote art and related activities.

"Tonight we saw what the creative economy is capable of doing. It's able to show the world that the question of memory can be brought to an international level through art.

People who haven't been to Rwanda learnt Rwandans songs about resilience. We are all connected although we come from different countries," the Minister said.

Hope Azeda, the visionary woman behind the Ubumuntu Arts Festival, described the 10-year journey as unimaginable but perceives the initiative as a baby that would crawl, later walk, and eventually run strongly attracting over 60 countries from across the globe.

"Our slogan, 'One world, one for all,' truly reflects our mission. Art is a powerful tool that can unlock even the most challenging and critical issues,” Azeda said.

"We chose this path intentionally and purposefully. We avoided meaningless initiatives and dialogues, and now we are here. Despite the challenges, we overcame them and remain very optimistic about the future," she added.

This year’s editions attracted participants from various countries including the United States, Pakistan, South Africa, DR Congo, France, Sri Lanka, Burundi, Kosovo, Spain, Uganda, Belgium, Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and host nation Rwanda, among others.