Musicians and actors joined thousands of people in a special event to commemorate World AIDS Day on Thursday at Kigali Regional Stadium in Nyamirambo.

The event was characterized by speeches, entertainment and a special World AIDS Day play about HIV/AIDS.

Renowned R&B boy group, Dream Boys treated the audience to a series of performances—belting out their popular tunes such as Bella, Isano, Waguye ahashashe and Bucece, which saw the audience dance uncontrollably.

However, the high point of the evening was when Mashirika Performing Arts, a popular performing group in the country staged Make a Choice- a play about the youth and the easy traps that expose them to HIV infection. It was accompanied by a musical choreography by Peace Jolis and Ntwari Didier.

Hope Azeda the director and founder of Mashirika told The New Times that the play aimed at educating the audience not give up the fight against HIV/AIDS because it still lingers on in our lives like a shadow.

"We should all rise up against HIV because it’s never gone...AIDS quietly lives in our shadows. So we all need to stand up against the scourge,” she said.

They also performed, Turinde Abana Bacu, a song that sensitizes the public about the dangers of HIV/AIDS.

Organized by Rwanda Biomedical Centre, the event also focused on community mobilisation and involvement in HIV prevention and treatment to end AIDS.

World Aids Day is held on December 1 every year. It is dedicated to raising awareness about HIV/AIDS and its prevention.

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