For the eighth year, Seoul hosted the Seoul-Africa Festival, an event designed to shine a positive light on Africa and challenge the often stereotypical portrayals seen in international media. The festival continues to celebrate Africa's rich cultural diversity and heritage.
On September 13, 2025, festivities at Dongdaemun Design Plaza began at 11:30 AM, featuring an electric performance by Umucyo, a Rwandan cultural troupe, comprised of individuals residing, studying, and working in South Korea. Their showcase of Rwanda's culture earned high praise from attendees.
This performance marked a celebratory reward for the cultural troupe's victory at the Asia-Africa Talent Awards held last year. The competition recognized exceptional cultural displays, with Umucyo securing its win against diverse competitors with their incredible artistry and dedication.
An audience favorite, the Troupe didn’t stop at traditional dances. They went further by introducing attendees to Rwandan cuisine, offering a taste of traditional dishes while narrating their cultural significance in Rwanda. This enriched the experience and deepened appreciation for Rwanda’s unique traditions.
After their awe-inspiring performances, Umucyo's leader, Uwera Regina Pacis, shared profound gratitude to the Rwandan Embassy in South Korea for their steadfast support. She emphasized how the Embassy's backing motivated their efforts and empowered the group to represent Rwanda on an international stage.
Pacis also expressed heartfelt appreciation for her dedicated team members, saying: “The extraordinary passion displayed by our dancers proves their commitment. They willingly make sacrifices to ensure they attend rehearsals and showcases, with some traveling up to four hours just to participate.”
This year’s Cultural Troupe Umucyo featured dancers Milly, Bruce, Dr. Joseph, Alex, Jolie, Betty, Pacis, Consolee, Sylvie, Jeanette, and Mignone. Their training was guided by Bruce Mugabo, a seasoned performer affiliated with Nganzo Ngari. The structured training brought notable growth compared to their prior self-directed practices.
Demonstrating Rwanda’s cultural pride globally, the Rwandan Embassy in South Korea took to X (formerly Twitter) to thank the festival participants, especially Umucyo, for showcasing Rwanda’s heritage vibrantly. They said:
“We are proud to join the Seoul-Africa Festival for the eighth time, organized by Africa Insight to honor Africa's cultural wealth through dance, art, and food. Special thanks go to Umucyo for representing Rwanda with pride and reiterating the cultural excellence that secured their win in last year’s competition.”
Umucyo embodies Rwandan heritage, proving that even while living abroad, preserving cultural identity and sharing it with the world remains paramount. Their dedication to enriching global understanding of Rwanda’s culture has not gone unnoticed.
Attendees of the festival walked away with remarkable memories about the beauty and depth of Rwandan culture.
The dancers of Umucyo also proudly displayed Rwanda’s traditional costumes and its national flag, reinforcing their connection to the homeland.
This year’s Seoul-Africa Festival truly lived up to its reputation of being an extraordinary cultural revelation