Dar es Salaam, 21 September 2019 - 117 Rwandan Artistes, Exhibitors and Government Officials will take part in the regional Arts and Cultural extravaganza named Jumuiya ya Afrika Mashariki Utamaduni Festival (JAMAFEST) from 21 to 29 September 2019 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

The fourth edition of the festival will be held under the theme “Cultural Diversity: A Key Driver to Regional Integration, Economic Growth, and Promotion of Tourism.” Rwanda will be represented by artists from different fields like plastic arts (painting, ceramics, and crafts), fashion and dance by students from Nyundo School of Music and national ballet Urukerereza, among others. They will participate in several activities including the Carnival, cultural performances, Art exhibitions, Symposium, Visits to natural and cultural sites, Marketplace of Arts and Crafts, Fashion Show, film screening, Traditional food, and the reach to the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro.

The festival was adopted by the council of ministers of the EAC in 2011 as one of the strategies through which the partner states can foster socioeconomic cohesion among East Africans. According to Dr. Jacques Nzabonimpa, Director of Culture at the Rwanda Academy for Languages and Culture, the festival will be an opportunity to learn from other countries through arts and culture, while showcasing Rwanda cultural tourism potentials.

“Our artists will not only showcase the uniqueness of the Rwandan culture but will also learn from other participating artists in terms of market and quality for our products,” said Dr. Nzabonimpa.

The inaugural JAMAFEST was held on February 2013 in Rwanda. Overall, it seeks to promote regional socio-cultural integration through arts and culture and fostering the economic development of the EAC through creating a market for cultural goods and services, as well as promoting arts and culture as a tool of communication in branding the bloc.

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