To mark international peace day, a spectacular Peace One Day Youth Celebration event was organised in Kigali, yesterday.

Musical acts included incredible performances of young Rwandan talents, including Knowless Butera and Urban Boyz. Krest Crew and Jabba Junior also mesmerized the young audience with their jaw-dropping dance moves.

Throughout the event, which took place at Petit Stade Amahoro in Remera, young children and adolescents who formed the majority of the audience danced and sang along with their local idols.

The beautiful celebrations concluded with the much awaited performance of six African artistes from all around the continent, who had come together to sing the inspiring peace anthem written by ZwaiBala. 

"Music is a powerful tool of expression, one that can have a great influence too. We encourage the youth to follow a peaceful attitude,” reveals Maurice Kirya.

Kirya from Uganda was one of the six singers of the anthem together with Ice Prince from Nigeria, Alikiba from Tanzania, Dama do Bling from Mozambique, ZwaiBala from South Africa, and Wangechi from Kenya.

The event aimed to inspire the youth from Rwanda and the Great Lakes region to be the driving force behind a united Africa.

For African countries to develop and development initiatives to be sustained, peace is indeed a necessary element. And there is no better time to seise the opportunity to achieve dreams of lasting peace and security in Africa. Focusing on the youth is also key as they are the next generation of leaders, the ones who will take all the important decisions.

The Minister for Youth and ICT, Jean Philbert Nsengimana, said: "As Rwandans, we never take peace for granted. Peace is a mindset of an entire generation that is shaped,” adding that peace is a gift that is shared, a gift that Rwanda today is sharing with the world.