Saturday evening was time to party for this year’s Dîner en Blanc-Kigali pre-registered guests who were transported from various bus points around Kigali to the Intare Conference Centre’s gardens in Rusororo. Considered as one of the Premier Summer social events, this year’s Diner en Blanc, which is the 6th edition in Kigali attracted over 400 people, all clad in white. The internationally celebrated pop-up picnic is now celebrated in more than 80 cities in over 30 countries around the world. Kigali became the first African city to host the global event in 2012. This year’s event attracted only registered domestic tourists as well as participants from all over the world representing 14 different nationalities, including tourists from Nigeria, Uganda, Canada, Belgium, and the United Kingdom. Globally, Le Dîner en Blanc promotes friendship, elegance, and a sense of community amongst participants. In Rwanda, the annual event is organised by Illume Creative Studio and has, since its inception, become part of the fabric of the country’s MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Events) tourism strategy and to promote local businesses and entrepreneurs towards diversifying the tourism sector in Rwanda by developing products and services for business and leisure travelers that would complement the country’s gorilla tourism, eco-tourism, and cultural and community based tourism. The event was hosted by Makeda Mahadeo. Fashion designers, retailers, and make-up artists provided special promotions for guests attending Le Dîner en Blanc –Kigali, to mark their day in style, enjoying the music from a number of performers like Selektah K-Ru, the Real Singers, Hill Stone Acapella by Mizzy, Mike Kayihura, and Alyn Sano featuring Herbert Rock. As usual, the guests were the central attraction of the event as they were creative with their outfits, table décor and the food they prepared while also enjoying complimentary wines supplied at each table by DBO Wines. Also, there was a variety of foods from participating restaurants and catering services at the event like Chap Chap Food, Khana Khazana, Choma’d, Slice and Cakes, and Bombari. Previously, the event was held in Gaculiro in 2012, Gishushu in 2013, Kagugu in 2014, Amahoro Stadium in 2015, and Kigali Conference and Exhibition Village in 2016. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
