The Rwanda Development Board (RDB), will for the first time coordinate the biennial dance, known as the Pan-African Dance Festival (Fespad).

This was revealed by John Gara, the CEO of RDB, on July 13, during a press conference organised to give update on various activities that will be carried out during the festival.

Gara said that the previous editions were primarily organised by MINISPOC---"RDB is responsible for organizing and implementing this year’s festival, but that doesn’t mean the Ministry is no longer involved.”

"Fespad has an important cultural element. So in organising the event, we are doing it in a close collaboration with MINISPOC.”

Fespad will start on July 24-31 and will be celebrated across the country. Eleven countries from across Africa and others from outside Africa have already confirmed.

The CEO said, this year, Fespad will showcase Rwanda both, from the point of tourism, as well as an appropriate place to invest.

The event is said to be spectacularly organised and will for the first time feature a dance competition of local talent and an international conference on entrepreneurship.

Rica Rwigamba, the Head of Tourism and Conservation department of RDB said that, the conference will be a creative economic perspectives in Africa—so the idea is not only performing, but also bringing international speakers to educate Rwandan entrepreneurs.

"We’re looking at how we can develop a creative industry,” Rwigamba said.

Dance workshops in Salsa, Hip-hop and Kinyarwanda will also be held in all provinces.

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