People with shared goals and experiences inevitably yearn for a space to unwind and connect with someone that could understand, a space that makes them feel seen and evoke a sense of esteem, and the Art Rwanda-Ubuhanzi art viewing event was just that.

Finalists of the program currently undergoing a year long incubation program put together an art viewing event accompanied by music by the fireplace meant not only to exhibit what they’ve been working on but also to foster conversations about the wins and woes of their crafts that they each have a thing or two to learn from.

The evening was graced by Sandrine Umutoni, the Director General at Imbuto Foundation, Grace Ingabire, a choreographer and Miss Rwanda 2021 as well as musicians Mani Martin and Bwiza, who became the highlight of the evening.

Set with an outdoor indoor theme, the event kicked off with an acoustic performance from Ishimwe, one of the incubation program’s participants by the fireplace. His acoustic jams centered on themes of excruciating love and longing, and pairing that with a melodic voice and igniting flames on a cold night made for a fascinating aesthetic, making it a great start to the evening. Proceeding Ishimwe’s performance was a brief tour of the art indoors, an opportunity for artists to witness different perceptions of their work, then a fireside conversation with the artists on the wins and woes that come with their passions.

Majority of the eloquent art pieces on display had been created within 3-5 days which was surprising, considering the attention to detail embroidered into them. The fireplace once again served as an outlet, a passive therapist if you will, as the artists opened about the struggles they’ve faced courtesy of their passion and creative process, stating that among their daily woes is the gender discrimination that still hasn’t subsided, which a ceramics artist expressed as one of the things that have hindered her most.

Clementine, an articulate painter enrolled in the incubation program shared that one of the thorns that have come with her work as an artist is receiving validation from her parents, and monetizing her paintings which hasn’t been a smooth ride.

"We convinced our parents that our work is valid, but when they see that we’re not selling as much art as we make, doubt arises,” said Clemantine.

They were melodic acoustic performances amidst the fireside discussions and eventually they led to Bwiza, a fast rising artist who graced the evening with stellar performance and a monologue nobody saw coming. The 'Ready' hit maker began her set performing the classic song 'Kanjogera' then ventured into a story about how her highschool dreams to be a singer panned out despite not being selected by Art Rwanda-Ubuhanzi when she tried out. She went on to commend the work being done by the incubation program and pointed out how lucky the participants are to be included in a community that harnesses their talents and skills, and how that is fundamental for a creative to thrive.

"You are all so lucky to be part of Art Rwanda-Ubuhanzi. I wasn’t able to join despite my desire to do so, but having a community that guides you and helps you grow is very important, and you should not take it for granted,” said Bwiza

Bwiza then talked about the journey of paving her own way when the program didn’t pan out, and how she would like to one day be able to represent Rwanda the same way Tiwa Savage represents Nigeria, and how being true to herself has helped her stay grounded. The artist then serenaded the audience with acoustic versions of her hit songs and snippets of her upcoming album that will soon be released, making that the most enjoyable portion of the event, given how the audience reacted to her live performances.

Also present at the event was Mani Martin, a renowned musician and judge of the Art Rwanda-Ubuhanzi national competition, who pointed out how progressive it is for young creatives to commune together and share portfolios and experiences.

"I think it is important for artists to feel the community around them, and this event gave them a safe space to share their experiences and get to know one another better. Sharing and learning go together and events like this give artists the space to choose what they share without being censored, and that is why events like this should be consistent.” Mani Martin said.

The event was a pioneer in what organisers hope will be seasonal events to showcase the progress of the incubation program and foster spaces for creatives to connect.