As Rwanda continues to host significant gatherings, conferences, and summits, Le Dîner en Blanc Kigali, the dynamic annual pop up picnic is making its return to the country’s tourism calendar. This year’s event is slated for Saturday, June 11, at a secret location in Kigali. After being the first African city to host this global event in 2012, this year will mark Kigali’s 7th official Dîner en Blanc. Since 2012, five countries in Africa now host Le Dîner en Blanc. Launched over 30 years ago in Paris, by François Pasquier and his close friends, the celebrated event has grown into an international event spanning six continents and celebrated in more than 80 cities in 30 countries around the world. Participants meet at various places in the city and are then ferried by bus to the location, which is always kept top secret until the last minute. In Rwanda, Dîner en Blanc is organized by Illume Creative Studio, a local communications agency and creative studio. Speaking about the event, Joan Mazimpaka, co-founder and CEO of Illume Creative Studio said that Dîner en Blanc- Kigali was started with the aim of contributing to the tourism landscape of Rwanda by creating a product that celebrates the beauty, diversity, dynamism, and creativity of Kigali. “When we started the event in 2012, we were hoping to diversify the tourism experience in Rwanda by appealing to domestic tourists as well as regional and international tourists, and by creating an event that brings people to Kigali, or gives them a reason to stay in Kigali a little longer. Now, we are just part of a wide variety of events and experiences that celebrate this dynamic city, ” explained Mazimhaka. She added that the event further opened up income-generating opportunities for local service providers like designers, retailers, tailors, restaurants, and hotels. “Over the past six events, Dîner en Blanc has attracted attendees from numerous countries, regionally including Burundi, Uganda, Kenya, Ivory Coast, South Africa, Nigeria, and internationally Canada, Switzerland, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, and the US. And local businesses have benefitted directly from the event.” Registration of the event is done online, and participants wear all white to the event, usually at an outdoor venue, and carry their own food and drink. Organizers recommend wines and champagnes for drinks, as opposed to beers and spirits. participants can order meals in advance from participating partner restaurants across Kigali. Previous events have been held in Gacuriro (2012), Giporoso (2013), Kagugu (2014), Stade Amahoro (2015), the Kigali Conference and Exhibition Village (KCEV) in 2016, and Intare Conference arena in 2018. Today, more than 80 cities around the world host their own Le Dîner en Blanc, including Paris, New York, Sydney, Tokyo, London, Los Angeles, Kigali, Haiti, Chicago, Philadelphia, Melbourne, Johannesburg, Singapore, Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal. Globally, Le Dîner en Blanc promotes friendship, elegance, and a sense of community. In Rwanda, it seeks to become part of the fabric of the country’s MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and events) tourism strategy and to promote local businesses and entrepreneurs.
