Established 20 years ago, Mashirika Performing Arts and Media Company continues to be the leader in the performing arts industry in Rwanda, settings itself apart as the the country’s kings and queens of theatre.

 Through the years, Mashirika has mainly focused on theatre, radio dramas, short movies and community outreach activities and it is fair to say that 20 years on, they are only growing stronger.

Besides touring the world performing its renowned production "Africa’s Hope”, Mashirika has over the years been regular performers at numerous local events like Kwita Izina, annual Commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi while it also participated at different international conferences and festivals.

 Mashirika has also been behind the creation of Ubumuntu Arts Festival, an annual festival that has become a global platform for new works and artistic responses to humanity.

Malaika Uwamahoro, one of the Mashirika’s main actresses during a presentation.

 A number of established names in Rwanda’s creative industry took advantage of Mashirika’s exposure and successfully rose to stardom. They are now regarded as the best in their respective creative assignments that gives Mashirika, which marks 20-year anniversary, a reason to celebrate.

 In an exclusive interview with The New Times, Hope Azeda, the Founder and Artistic Director of Mashirika, shares the company’s journey to becoming a leading theater company in Rwanda, the anniversary agenda and future plans in the next 20 years.

How can you describe Mashirika’s journey during the past 20 years? 

 I would say it is an exciting one! Since its establishment in 2000, Mashirika Performing Arts and Media Company, has constantly been exploring new ways to develop, learn and create exciting theatre though different modes of performance including dance, movement, music, drama and spoken word.

 We’re always ready to add new things to the mix. Mashirika has also been on the forefront in using theatre for development.  We are really more a community child than a city entertainer, engaging communities throughout Rwanda and the world with our home-grown methodologies.

 Our mission has always been to show that performing arts is not only about entertainment but also a tool for social transformation and source of employment and we are driven by passion to  pave the way for the creative arts in Rwanda through consistent commissions and professionalism.

As the country continues to observe a lockdown due to COVID-19 lockdown, have you put on hold the celebration plans?

 The ‘Mashirika20’ celebration has many activities lined up, and some have already started regardless of the lockdown! 

Actors entertain revelers during an agricultural awareness event in one of the rural areas of Rwanda..

 There will be various online content that will be shared and a lot of virtual material that is currently being created. We have dates that we had in minds for actual physical events but we will wait until the situation normalises to create more awareness. 

 But we guarantee a series of event that will bring on stage the best of Mashirika to Rwanda and the world. 

What is Mashirika’s contribution to the development of the creative industry in Rwanda? 

 We believe Mashirika has played a role in the Mass education of the Rwandan audience in various campaigns addressing social transformation in all its different kind! 

 We also see ourselves as strong participants in growing the Rwandan art scene both on a national level and the global scene. 

 Mashirika has also been among the most sustainable performing arts entities to break the ice around the idea of doing art as a profession and we contribute to that even to date by hiring professionals and doing our best to meet the government standard of a healthy company. 

Which established performing artists that made a name in the creative industry through Mashirika? 

 Mashirika performing arts and Media Company has raised a number of artists of national and international standards in different sectors of the industry from filmmaking, comedy to music and poetry.

 There are examples of Malaika Uwamahoro, who is household name in Rwandan poetry and spoken word, Arthur Nkusi has built a great name for himself in Rwanda’s comedy industry.

 The likes of Anita Pendo, filmmaker Eliane Umuhire, and many more are on the long list of artistes who grew through the ranks of Mashirika.

Where do you want to see Mashirika in the next 20 years? 

 Given the high demand of young talents who always want to join, Mashirika is considering a bigger dream of a fully-transformed performing arts academy, focusing on educating young people into professional artists, and offering them a stable platform to showcase their work and make a living out of it.