SOUTHERN PROVINCE

HUYE — The minister of Youth Sports and culture Joseph Habineza has asked foreign artists to act as Rwanda’s ambassadors abroad.

He was closing a cultural gala on Saturday in Butare town.

Habineza hailed the organisers of the festival saying, hosting the event was a step to making Butare a cultural capital of Rwanda.

He noted that the event served to draw participants from different nations together to share experiences.

The cultural event dubbed "Azimut Festival" that started on January 25 attracted 68 artists from Togo, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Burundi, Belgium, and the USA. Together with Rwandan artists, they staged 40 performances during the week-long event.

The National University of Rwanda’s Vice Rector in charge of Academics Martin O’Hara, who represented the Rector Silas Lwakabamba at the function, hailed the organisers for including female artists in playing drums, a practice, he said was previously reserved for men.

He said the University is leading a campaign to change negative perception about women in the country.

He stressed the need to develop the service sector in Rwanda which reportedly accounts for five percent of GDP. "Art and culture should contribute substantially in this development," said O’Hara.

He observed that tourists visit the country for more than just a holiday, "they need to know more about communities and learn about other social dynamics of a country. This is why art and culture play an important role."

During the event, participants also received tips on how to improve on their performances.

The festival climaxed with stage performances from the Senegalese Doudou Ndiaye Rose, the Alif Naaba Band, Jazz music by the Ryan Quartet Inyombya Jazz music groups and music from the Burundian Jean Pierre Nimbona alias Kidumu.

Governor Fidele Ndayisaba, District and other Provincial leaders graced the closing ceremony.

Ends