After a successful inaugural edition in Paris, France, last year, all eyes now shift to Kigali, the host city of the second edition of AIC-MOCA festival slated for June 30 to July 3.
The festival is a joint project by Africa in Colors, a Rwandan-based art initiative represented by Raoul Rugamba and Movement of Creatives Africas (MOCA), a French based initiative represented by Cameroonian art entrepreneur Alain Bidjeck.
The duo produced the first edition in Paris last year after reaching a strategic partnership agreement in 2020, to rethink the African creative ecosystem of tomorrow, in order for it to impact, in a sustainable way, locally and globally.
Rwanda was among the participants of the Paris festival and 12 key players participated and promoted the country as a creative hub.
City Mayor Pudence Rubingisa, Rwanda Development Board (RDB) deputy CEO Zephanie Niyonkuru, Jean De Dieu Turinimana, the CEO of Rwanda Society of Authors and artists Carole Karemera, Nirere Shanel, and Judo Kanobana, were among the 12 figures that represented the country at the festival.
Rugamba told The New Times that they intend to highlight the cultural creativity of Rwandan creatives through the festival, pursue international creatives to do business in Rwanda as well as position Rwanda as a creative hub.
"The idea to bring the festival to Kigali is clear; we want Rwandan creatives to showcase the best of their creativity for them to attract global entrepreneurs to invest in the creative industry. It’s open to all creatives and we only hope to see positive outcomes from it,” he said in an interview.
The festival is expected to bring together creatives in music, visual arts, fashion, filmmaking and production, among others.
Organisers are putting in place masterclass workshops, conferences, tours, cultural exhibitions and B2B meetings, among other initiatives, on the festival agenda for creatives, local and international, to share experiences on how best they can turn their creatives into gold.
Concerts, video gaming, virtual reality will also be organised to ensure participants and the audience in general is entertained during the festival.
Before announcing the festival, organisers presented the project to the government, through the Ministry of Youth and Culture where they discussed the importance of the festival in the economy of Rwanda, the contribution of the festival in improving the culture and creative industry ecosystem in Rwanda and its players, and its role in bringing people to invest and do business in Rwanda, an initiative that impressed State Minister Edouard Bamporiki.
At least 5,000 participants from across Rwanda, around the continent and the rest of the world are expected to participate throughout the four-day of the festival.
Among the participants include students, entrepreneurs, artists, influencers, innovators, decision makers, various national and international media houses, and many other players of the culture and creative industry from across the globe.