The Ubumuntu Arts Festival, now in its 11th edition, is set to return from July 14–20, 2025, taking place at the Kigali Genocide Memorial Amphitheatre at Gisozi and other prominent venues in Kigali. This year’s festival celebrates the transformative power of art by showcasing poetry, performances, and discussions around hope, remembrance, and humanity’s remarkable ability to heal.
Founded in 2015 by Hope Azeda, a Rwandan theatrical director recognized for her contributions to peacebuilding and reconciliation, the festival was conceived as a way to heal lingering wounds of tragic historical events. Azeda believes in art’s profound role in restoration and as a medium for driving healing across communities.
Over the past decade, the Ubumuntu Arts Festival has evolved into one of the most impactful platforms in Africa. It has brought together artists and advocates of human dignity, justice, and mental well-being. Featuring contributions from over 30 artists representing diverse cultures, the festival serves as a hub for global collaboration through stories that change lives.
Hope Azeda, the festival’s visionary founder and curator, explained: "Ubumuntu is more than a festival—it is a calling. It urges humanity to remember our shared values, while offering space for painful yet healing narratives. Every activity is a step toward collective healing and changing societal perspectives."
Key Highlights of Ubumuntu Arts Festival 2025:
July 14: Mental Health Awareness Day
The opening day centers on mental health awareness, focusing on challenges artists and creatives often face. Activities will include workshops, compelling discussions, and creative solutions, reducing stigma around trauma-related issues and empowering individuals to prioritize emotional and psychological growth.
July 15: Outreach Program for Genocide Survivors
An outreach program scheduled outside Kigali will provide a platform for survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi to share their stories. Through artistic storytelling, the event aims to preserve history, foster intergenerational dialogue, and nurture remembrance as part of collective healing.
July 16–17: Cultural Diplomacy Unconference
This groundbreaking event will bring artists, policymakers, diplomats, and thought leaders together in Kigali to explore how art inspires cultural understanding worldwide. Attendees will engage in storytelling, cross-cultural exchanges, and strategic discussions to align art with impactful decision-making on global issues.
July 17: Musical Concert of Joy and Connection
Celebrate humanity through uplifting musical performances by renowned artists from Rwanda and abroad. This concert highlights music's ability to serve as a universal language that unites audiences and generates positive impact within societies.
July 18–20: Festival’s Finale
The final three nights will feature captivating spectacles of dance, theater, poetry, and visual arts at the Kigali Genocide Memorial. This closing segment creatively combines themes of remembrance, resilience, and optimism, fostering inspiration and hope for the future.
The meaning of “Ubumuntu” in Kinyarwanda is “humanity,” embodying the festival's core values of love, compassion, reconciliation, and justice. What originally began as a small initiative has grown into an internationally recognized event, heralding unity and enhanced global collaboration among cultures.
Each year, the festival brings together thousands of participants, including students, artists, peacebuilders, and changemakers. It showcases Rwanda’s leadership in driving societal transformation through art and creativity.
'Ubumuntu' symbolizes more than performance—it represents art as activism, healing for unspoken wounds, and a reminder of the inherent value of humanity.
The Ubumuntu Arts Festival returns to Kigali July 14–20, 2025, bringing together diverse artistic expressions and unifying people across cultures.
Throughout this week-long event, 'Ubumuntu' will host inspirational performances, dialogues, and literature that confront past hardships while promoting healing and reconciliation.
Hope Azeda [second from left], the driving force behind the festival, emphasizes its role as a platform for healing emotional scars through art.
In 2024, Chorale Choeur International captivated audiences during the festival’s 10th anniversary.
Singer Boukuru, noted for her latest album, is among the talented lineup for 'Ubumuntu' in 2025.