President Paul Kagame on Monday morning joined Masai Ujiri, Toronto Raptors president and vice-chair and Giants of Africa co-founder, for the official groundbreaking ceremony of the "Zaria Court Kigali” an urban development initiative that focuses on, among others, community, hospitality, sports and culture.
The development is part of a series of ceremonies happening on the sidelines of the Giants of Africa Festival underway in Kigali.
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Located within Kigali’s lively sports and entertainment district near the BK arena and the under-construction Amahoro stadium, the Zaria Court Kigali is expected to bring together social and cultural community gatherings, and at the same time a magnet for sports enthusiasts, influencers and Africa’s booming middle class.
Upon completion, which is expected in early 2025, Rwanda will be home to the first Zaria Court on the continent.
According to the Office of the President, Zaria is centred around an urban hospitality hub which reuses existing buildings and features an 80-room boutique hotel, restaurants, a rooftop lounge, a gym, wellness spaces, co-working spaces and a podcast studio.
At the heart of the site is a multi-purpose court, which will serve as a space for sporting events, festivals, performances, markets among other events.
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Zaria Court Kigali is also expected to include a vibrant retail area which will adapt to the needs of the neighbourhood and visitors.
At the facility, shipping containers will be repurposed into shops and other businesses, creating an environmentally sustainable retail space that serves as an incubation hub, targeted at women-owned businesses and young local entrepreneurs.
Meanwhile, President Paul Kagame on Sunday, August 13, presided over the official opening of the Giants of Africa youth basketball festival that brought together more than 200 youth from 16 African countries in celebration of Giants of Africa’s 20th anniversary.
The Festival’s key events included the opening concert featuring performances from award-winning singer Diamond Platnumz and Sherrie Silver, an award-winning choreographer.
The Giants of Africa Festival aims to inspire and encourage young people from across the African continent, while acknowledging their immense potential and the collective effort to create positive change.
With key themes including basketball, education, culture, and entertainment, the Festival strives to unite and celebrate the next generation of leaders across Africa. Youth campers will represent Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, Somalia, Uganda, Botswana, Ghana, South Sudan, Morocco, Cameroon and Mali.
On the last day of the festival, President Kagame, Masai Ujiri, and over 200 youth campers will join the Kigali community in cleanup activities where the campers will get an opportunity to learn more about the importance of climate change and sustainability.