The second annual artfestival, dubbed Festival Arts Azimuts, opened last Friday at the National University of Rwanda.

The week long festival marked under the theme: ‘Culture and Conflicts’ has attracted guests from Senegal, Togo, Burkina Faso, Cambodge and Mexico.

Gloria Magambo the deputy director of the festival in an interview with The New Times said that the festival is part of celebrations to mark 10 years of the University Centre for Arts and Drama.

"We are celebrating 10 years since the centre started and also commemorating 15 years after 1994 Genocide, it is a celebration of Arts and life,” she said.

International guests at the festival include; Boubacar Boris Diop from Senegal, Soko Phay Vakalis from Cambodge, Flora Thefaine from Togo and Palmira Telesfora Cruz fro Mexico.

Activities during the festival include; performances by Alif Naaba from Burkina Faso, Music, dance and poetry by Ngwino Ubeho, Ikobe music group and Ingoma Nshya (percussions), and conferences on culture and conflicts under the coordination of Dr. Koulsy Lamko from Chad.

‘It is a great festival for the Country, the presentations are of great quality,” said Flora Thefaine, a choreographer from Togo. The event is sponsored by NUR, Doen foundation and Prince Claus fund.

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