Kigali to host regional gospel music festival

This Saturday, gospel enthusiasts are in for a treat as 13 choirs from regional countries perform at the 9th edition of East African Cathedral Choir Festival, at Amahoro National Stadium in Kigali. The two-day festival is coming to Rwanda for the first time and will start at 2p.m. Rev. Erisa Mutabazi, the Senior Pastor at Saint Etienne Cathedral, the organisers of this year’s festival, said the festival will have a positive impact on the Rwandan community. The organisers of this years One Song Festival during a news conference at St Étienne Church in Kigali. / Julius Bizimungu. Traditional dancers from Uganda perform during a past festival. “We have for long been asked to organise this festival but we wanted to first have sufficient capacity so that we prepare something that will not only impact the Christian community, but also the whole Rwandan community,” he said. He said the message from the festival will be about what people need in their lives; empowering them, believing in God, committing to what can change the lives of people, and addressing regional integration. The theme for this years gospel music festival is “Philippians 3:13-14. The festival brings together people from across the East African Community. Pastor Maurice Klebert Rukimbira said the festival will be a wonderful moment to share experiences, good practices and networking that can lead to greater integration. “It is a time to share the good news of God through Praise and worship but it is also an important moment to share experiences, learn from each other and of course deliberate on how we can build our region and our world,” said Rukimbira. The event will be graced by regional renowned religious leaders such as the main preacher Archbishop Luke Orombi from Uganda, Rev. Antoine Rutayisire, the chairperson of Rwanda Leaders Fellowship and Rt. Rev. Louis Muvunyi (Rwanda), among others. The Saturday festival in Kigali is expected to attract a massive crowd of gospel music lovers. The festival is organised in partnership with the Ministry of East African Community, Ministry of Local Government and Ministry of Sports and Culture. Churches participating include St Albans Cathedral Church, St. Andrew Magomeni, and St. Bathlomew- Ubungo from Tanzania, as well as Uganda’s St. Pauls Cathedral Namirembe, All Saints Cathedral Kampala, and Chorus Anjeloroum Choir. Intore dancer entertains the crowd. Kenya’s St. Stephens Cathedral choir, All Saints Cathedral; S. Sudan’s All Saints Cathedral Juba; and Rwanda’s St. Etienne Cathedral Choir Kigali, Kigeme Diocese choir, Shyira Diocese Choir, and Byumba Diocese, will also take part in the festival. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Kigali to host regional gospel music festival