Another dramatized edition of the Pan Africa Dance Festival (FESPAD) is around the corner. This makes Rwandans indeed excited to host yet again remarkable and flourishing traditional dances bringing together different countries to show their beautifully cultures.

FESPAD is a bi-annual dance festival organized under the high patronage of the African Union, which highlights the cultural marvels of Africa.

Internationally renowned choreographers from twenty-five countries will be present at FESPAD, which will explore ties between the African traditional dances and international contemporary ones.

It will also be an occasion for the celebration of a double anniversary: 100 years of Kigali and 10 years of FESPAD.
FESPAD 2008 brings the most beautiful cultures in Africa and across the world.

In addition, each show is a stopover, from Egypt to Swaziland through Mali and Tanzania. An exceptional opportunity of meeting with the dance treasures from the four corners of the continent.

During a press conference, the Minister of Culture and Sports Joseph Habineza, told journalists that this year’s FESPAD, will be a diversity of activities that will create a long lasting structure to achieve the initial goals of the festival.

"The event will serve as a tool that will help in the preservation, communication and transmission of traditional culture,” said Mr Habineza.

Mr. Habineza added that, in order to achieve the goals, many initiatives have been taken and they include the following: the launching of an archive centre (Ejo Dance Centre), the production of a TV show, "K-Dance, etc.

"We want to see how art and business can work together. We want to see how the art sector can make money. It is possible for the art and business sectors to work hand in hand and equally benefit from one another,” he said.

Anita Munyaneza, the communication and Public Relations officer of Fespad, pointed out that the 2008 festival will be much more international. In addition, it will deploy its activities through the cities of Kigali, Butare and Gisenyi.

After there, all roads will be heading to Gisenyi, where different Rwandan artists will be unveiling their new models in the essence of performances and arts in the tourist town.

Talking to participants at the conference, Ms. Munyaneza explained that, although FESPAD’s main objective is still to promote dance, it will also be promoting tourism in a way.

This year’s next edition of Fespad is sponsored and partnered by: BCR, Bralirwa, Eletrogaz, MTN, Rwandair express, Fair Constraction, the Rwanda National Office of Tourism (Ortpn), Rwanda Investment and Exports Promotion Agency (RIEPA), among others.

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